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BOYS AND GIELS OF 
SEYENTY-SEVEN 


By Mary P. Wells Smith. 


THE YOUNG PURITANS SERIES. 

The Young Puritans of Old Hadley. 

The Young Puritans in King Philip’s War. 

The Young Puritans in Captivity, 

The Young and Old Puritans of Hatfield. 

4 vols. Illustrated. 16mo. Decorated cloth, ®1.26 
per volume. The set, in box, ^6.00 

THE JOLLY GOOD TIMES SERIES. 

Jolly Good Times ; or, Child Life on a Farm, 

Jolly Good Times at School; also, Some Times not 
so Jolly. 

The Browns. 

Their Canoe Trip. 

Jolly Good Times at Hackmatack. 

More Good Times at Hackmatack. 

Jolly Good Times To-day. 

A Jolly Good Summer. 

8 vols. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, gilt, $1.25 per 
volume. The set, uniformly bound In cloth, gilt, 
in box, $10.00. 


Four on a Farm, Illustrated. 12mo. $1.60. 


THE OLD DEERFIELD SERIES. 

The Bov Captive of Old Deerfield. Illustrated. 12mo. 
$1 25. 

The Boy Captive in Canada. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.25. 
Boys of the Border. Illustrated. 12mo. $1.25. 

Boys and Girls of Seventy seven. Illustrated. 12mo. 
$1.25. 



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“Colonel Wells gave his loved cliildren a fond smile and 
hand wave as he rode by.” — Frontispiece. 

See page 247. 


THE OLD DEERFIELD SERIES 


BOYS AND GIRLS 
SEVENTY-SEVEN 

BY 

MARY P. WELLS ^ITH 

AUTHOR OF “THB YOUNG PURITANS SEV^BS," “ THB JOLLY 
GOOD TIMBS SBRIBS,** ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED BY CH. GRUNWALD 


BOSTON 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 





Copyright, 1909, 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 
All rights reserved 

Published September, 1909 


r,. A 246849 

SEP 2f';1.^9 




THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. 8. A. 


TO 


JUDGE FRANCIS M. THOMPSON, 


AUTHOR OF “the HISTORY OF GREENFIELD” AND FIRST 
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE POCUMTUCK VALLEY 
MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

IN MEMORY OF A LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIP AND OF MANY 
INTERESTING AND HELPFUL TALKS WITH HIM 


ON HISTORIC TOPICS 


I 





PREFACE. 


f I IHIS is a story of the Revolutionary period, 
especially as affecting that region of 
Western Massachusetts in which the previous 
historic tales by the author are located. It closes 
with the surrender of Burgoyne. It aims to 
bring home to young readers the high courage, 
patriotism, and self-sacrifice animating our fore- 
fathers, who, a small and scattered people, in a 
new and poor country, with limited means, no 
regular army or navy or trained soldiers, ven- 
tured to declare war for a principle against one 
of the world’s most powerful nations, and after 
seven years of strenuous conflict, triumphed. 

The experiences of Colonel David Wells and 
family are given because typical of those under- 
gone by many families at that time, and also 
because their story is familiar to the author, 
the main incidents having often been recounted 


viii PKEFACE. 

to her by her father, who, in his youth, heard 
them in his turn from the actors in the scenes. 
Kevolutionary times are fast becoming wholly 
traditional, and it seems worth while, therefore, 
to preserve the personal touch with them when 
possible. Young readers may rest assured that 
this is a true story.” 

Mary P. Wells Smith. 


Greenfield, Mass., 


CONTENTS. 

Chapter Page 

I. The Arrival 1 

II. Captain ’Grip’s Story 16 

III, Getting Settled 30 

IV. To Meeting 40 

V. Town Meeting Day 53 

VI. The Boys Arrive 65 

VII. A Husking-Bee 77 

VIII. Winter 92 

IX. The Boston Tea-Party 99 

X. The Militia Company 108 

XI. The Summer of 1774 118 

XII. Mobbing in Deerfield 130 

XIII. A Wedding 139 

XIV. In the Spring 153 

XV. Startling News 167 

XVI. A Loss 180 

XVII. Americans Can Fight 190 

XVIII. The First Fourth of July 207 


X 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter 

XIX. Sunshine after Rain 

XX. Off for the War 

XXI. Dark Days .... 

XXII. The Country Aroused 
XXIII. A Victory .... 
XXIV. In Conclusion . . . 

Appendix A 

Appendix B 

Appendix C 

Appendix D 

Appendix E 

Appendix F 

Appendix G 

Appendix H 

Appendix I 

Appendix J 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


“ Colonel Wells gave his loved children a fond 

smile and hand wave as he rode by’* . . Frontispiece 

“At last the captain began, the children gather- 
ing eagerly close around him” ..... Page 17 

“ Away went the fiddle, squeaking out ‘ Money 

Musk'” 82 




“ ‘ We drew up beside the road, and I made a 
real deep courtesy ’ ” 


181 




% 


BOYS AND GIRLS OF 
SEVENTY-SEVEN. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE ARRIVAL. 

A MOONLIGHT night in February, 1772. 

As Captain Agrippa Wells came in from 
his barn he paused a second to glance around 
before entering the little log house. Through 
the window, whence the candle-light streamed 
ruddily out upon the snow, he saw his wife, 
Mehitable, sitting before the fire knitting, her 
needles glancing in the firelight as her fingers 
flew. Around him on every side rose high hills, 
mostly still covered with primeval forest. Spot- 
less snow, glistening in the moonlight, covered 
every cleared space. Down below him stretched 
a wide expanse of the Connecticut Valley, white 
in the moonlight, with hills beyond. In the 
valley below, but three miles away, the captain 
saw shining the lights of the little village of 
Greenfield. Silently the moonlight fell over 
1 


2 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

this wide, beautiful landscape. No sound broke 
the intense silence save a distant howling from 
the woods on the northwest hills. 

‘‘Wolves!’’ thought Agrippa. “Well, let 
them howl. My sheep and cattle are safe from 
their teeth behind my stout barnyard palisade.” 

“ It is a glorious moonlight night out, Mehit- 
able,” he said as he entered the room. 

“I know it,”’ answered his wife, yawning 
wearily as she folded her work. “ But I am so 
tired after our packing to-day, I cannot keep my 
eyes open longer, and must to bed, though it be 
but eight o’ clock.” 

For here the tall clock in the corner slowly 
chimed eight solemn strokes. 

“ I am tired, and sleepy too,” said Agrippa. 
“ But I must just look into this Boston ‘ Gazette ’ 
that John Wells sent over to-day. I haven’t 
seen a Boston paper for two weeks. I want to 
keep my eye on Sam Adams and see what he 
advises.” 

Agrippa seated himself before the fireplace, 
where the fire, save the big back log, had died 
down to a glowing bed of coals. He took the 
candle and, bending over, elbows on his knees, 
held it between himself and the paper in his 
hands, the better to see. 


THE ARRIVAL. 


3 


Ha ! ” he exclaimed presently, with a start 
that nearly set his paper ablaze. ^‘That's the 
way to talk 1 It takes Sam Adams to speak his 
mind to Governor Hutchinson. He is n’t afraid 
of the king himself.” 

But, filled with patriotism though Agrippa 
was, the fatigue of the day would make itself 
felt, and at last he reluctantly folded his paper, 
carefully buried the fire in ashes, and went to 
bed. Silence profound descended on the solitary 
log house and its slumbering inmates. 

By and by Agrippa, who slept heavily after 
his day’s labor in the wintry air, was wakened 
by his wife, who was shaking him. 

Agrippa ! ” she cried, wake up ! Some 
one’s pounding on the outer door. What can 
be wanted at this time of night ? ” 

Agrippa, thus roused, heard a smart rapping 
on the door and the sound of voices outside. 
Hastily tumbling out and pulling on his gar- 
ments, he hurried to open the door a crack and 
peer out. 

^^Well, Cousin Agrippa, here we are at last, 
you see, — bag and baggage,” said a hearty 
voice. 

What, David, have you really come ? ” cried 
Agrippa, throwing the door wide open. I ’m 


4 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

downright glad to see you. Welcome, Cousin 
Mary, and all the young folks too. Welcome 
to Shelburne. Come right in.’’ 

Before the door in the moonlight stood a two- 
horse sled piled high with furniture and bed- 
ding, on which rode a mother and little ones. 
The father and older children were mounted 
on horseback, one boy leading a cow. A tired- 
looking dog followed the party. In all, here 
was a company of nine persons, threatening to 
more than fill the little log house. 

But the welcome was most hearty, both from 
Agrippa and his wife, who had hurriedly dressed 
on hearing her husband’s joyful call : 

Mehitable ! Here ’s Cousin David and his 
family arrived at last ! ” 

For these were the cousins from Connecticut 
to whom Agrippa had sold his farm in Shelburne 
the previous October. Captain David Wells had 
then told his cousin that he intended to move 
his family up and take possession of the farm 
the last of the winter, before sleighing was 
gone. 

There was little opportunity to send letters, 
and Agrippa had heard nothing further. But 
he and his wife had begun packing their goods 
and were prepared to move on short notice, 


THE ARRIVAL. 


5 


feeling that, as spring was approaching, the 
Wells family must arrive ere long. And now 
here they were ! 

The weary young travellers gladly dismounted 
from their horses and the mother brought her 
drowsy little ones in to the fire. Mehitable had 
already raked it open, throwing on light pine 
wood, which quickly kindled to a blaze, lighting 
the rude room cheerfully. 

wish I could offer you a cup of hot tea, 
Cousin Mary,’’ said Mehitable. Nothing would 
so refresh you after your long, cold ride. But 
that, you know, is forbidden.” 

Yes, I should certainly think you and 
Cousin Agrippa were Tories if I so much as 
smelt a whiff of tea under your roof,” said Mrs. 
Mary, smiling in spite of her fatigue. 
stopped in Deerfield, at Major Salah Barnard’s 
tavern,^ for a late supper, so need nothing now 
but our beds. David thought the night was 
so fine we had best keep right on. A ring 
around the moon seems to foretell a storm to- 
morrow.” 

And we were all anxious to reach our long 
journey’s end, when so near it, and see our new 

1 The Frary house. Long occupied by the late Miss C. Alice 
Baker. 


6 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

home,” said Mary Wells, the second daughter, a 
spirited girl of eighteen. 

‘^In truth, I must say, it looks rather dole- 
ful,” half whispered her sister Patience, the older 
daughter. 

Patience was tired, and the log house certainly 
looked rather primitive to the young people com- 
ing from the older settlements of Connecticut. 

’Sh, Patience, none of your ‘ dolefuls/ ” said 
Mary, as she took baby Walter, a sturdy boy of 
two, heavy with sleep, out of her mother’s tired 
arms. 

Patience, aided by Lucinda, the fourteen-year- 
old sister, began to remove the heavy wraps 
which protected their sister Eunice, aged eight, 
and their little brother William, five years old, 
who really staggered with sleep as he stood 
patiently to be undone. 

But Eunice, who was a child of much sturdy 
independence, rejected the efforts of Lucinda to 
aid her. 

I ’m not a baby, Lucinda,” she said, pushing 
her sister away. You don’t need to help me. 
I can undress myself.” 

The two mothers, aided by the two fathers, 
now tried to devise sleeping accommodations for 
the night. The log house had but two rooms, 


THE ABRIVAL. 


7 


a large living-room and a bedroom, with a loft 
above, to which steep, ladder-like steps led from 
one corner of the living-room. Agrippa Wells, 
his wife and younger children, occupied the bed- 
room. His two older children were asleep in 
the loft, unawakened as yet by the sound of 
voices below. 

The feather beds and bedclothes were brought 
in from the sled and spread on the floor. Cap- 
tain David, his wife, and the younger children 
occupied these beds, while the older children 
climbed the steep stairs into the loft, where 
their cousin Mehitable had improvised beds for 
them. 

A feather bed on a floor is not a downy couch 
of ease. But the Wells family, after riding all 
day, and - for two previous days, in the cold, 
were in no mood to be critical. It was a luxury 
to stretch their cramped limbs and lie down in 
peace, anyhow and anywhere ; to feel that their 
long journey was ended and that they had 
reached their new home. Sleep soon descended 
on the whole household. From the fire’s cover- 
ing of ashes a coal or two glimmered, painting 
a rosy ray of light on the ceiling and dimly 
lighting the sleeping forms below. 

Captain David Wells, like Captain Agrippa, 


8 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-S^VEN. 

was directly descended from Thomas Wells, one 
of the engagers ” who came up from Wethers- 
field to settle Hadley in 1659. Their grand- 
fathers were his sons. But Noah Wells, David's 
grandfather, had gone back to the old home 
country in Connecticut, and finally settled at 
Colchester. Here David was born, had married, 
and had lived on the half of the paternal farm 
set off to him by his father, bearing an active 
part in matters of church and State, as a captain 
of the South Military Company in the Twelfth 
Connecticut Regiment of Militia, chairman of 
the committee in charge of building a new 
church, etc. 

Now he was forty-nine years old and the 
father of nine children, five of whom were sons. 
As his boys began to grow up, Captain Wells 
had felt it necessary to seek the better oppor- 
tunities which a new country would offer them. 
He had therefore come up the previous autumn 
into the new and sparsely settled region on the 
hills northwest of Deerfield. Here the amount 
for which he could sell his Colchester farm 
would purchase a great tract of land, mostly un- 
cleared as yet, but which the labor of himself 
and his sons would gradually convert into fine 
farms. 


THE ARRIVAL. 


9 


Shelburne had only been incorporated as a 
separate town four years. Not until the close 
of the French and Indian Wars in 1760 had any 
one ventured to settle there permanently. Now 
a few settlers were scattered about in log houses 
set in clearings here and there in the vast forests 
covering the hills which composed the town. 
For Shelburne was a mountain town, lying up 
among the hills which extended from the Hoosac 
Range. The Wellses were as truly pioneers in 
coming up to settle on this western farm as 
were, a little later, those who went from Con- 
necticut to the Northwestern Reserve. 

The next day was a busy one in the crowded 
log house. Agrippa and his wife had packed 
everything possible while still living in the house. 
He had bought a house in Greenfield village, 
where he intended to set up a blacksmith shop. 

How did your husband happen to decide on 
moving to Greenfield? I should almost have 
thought he would have gone back to his old 
home in Deerfield,” said Mrs. David Wells. 

Greenfield is growing to be quite a village. 
It has about twenty houses now, and they are 
building a good-sized meeting-house of their 
own up on Trap Plain,^ in the centre of the 

^ Appendix A. 


10 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEYEN. 

town. Agrippa thinks the Yillage is likely to 
grow still more, and that it will furnish a good 
opening for him; he can add blacksmithing to 
his farm work, and so earn more. As one’s 
family increases, one’s expenses increase, you 
know.” 

Yes, I know that well,” said Mrs. Wells. 

The Agrippa Wells family were packing their 
last things, nailing up boxes and barrels, and 
loading sleds, while the David Wells family 
were unpacking their belongings and moving in. 

Agrippa ’s children, young Agrippa, Mehit- 
able, and Mary, had been delighted, on awaken- 
ing, to find that their new cousins had arrived. 
It was a great day for the children. They were 
so numerous, so interested in everything, so 
determined to ‘^help,” that at last Mehitable 
said : 

Cousin Mary, I am sure you will agree with 
me that we can get along better without the 
children’s help. They’re so thick under foot, 
I’m afraid some — Agrippa, what are you doing 
with that warming-pan ? ” 

‘‘ Israel and I are playing Indian, and I ’m 
on his trail. This is my war club.” 

Put it down at once. You must n’t meddle 
with Cousin David’s things.” 


THE ARRIVAL. 


11 


Eunice/’ said her mother, don’t try to lift 
one end of that heavy chest. You’ll strain 
yourself. Come, come, children, you’ll help us 
most by getting out of the way.” 

Let them all go out to the barn and play,” 
said Mehitable. 

To the barn all the younger children had to 
go, exiled from the fun of unpacking and the 
general excitement pervading the house. 

The barn, like the house, was built of logs, and 
looked small to the Connecticut children. But 
the barnyard was surrounded by such a fence as 
they had never seen ; it was made of half-logs 
set closely together side by side, and very high. 

I never saw a fence like that,” said Israel. 

That’s a palisade,” said young Agrippa, 
to keep out wild animals, wolves and panthers, 
who would carry off our sheep and calves but 
for this fence.” 

^^Dear me,’^ said Eunice, looking over at the 
woods near by with a shudder, I am afraid. I 
heard the wolves howling on the hills as we rode 
up last night.” 

^^You needn’t fear,” said Agrippa. ^^They 
are shy enough in the daytime.” 

The children found plenty to interest them at 
the barn. 


12 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

I wonder if all our cattle can get in here,” 
said Israel, disposed to boast. ‘MVe have thirty 
head in all.” 

Where are they ? ” asked Agrippa. You 
only brought one cow up with you.” 

Father left them behind in Colchester, to 
eat up the hay in our barn there. My big 
brothers, David and Noah, stayed to take care 
of them. By and by, when the grass is up, so 
the cattle can feed along the way, the boys will 
drive them up.” 

This is a good barn to play hide and seek 
in,” said Mehitable. 

Let ’s have a game, there 's so many of us,” 
said Eunice. 

The barn soon presented an animated scene, 
with children scampering all over it, climbing 
up and down the beams, chasing each other, 
and sliding down the mows. 

‘^Do let’s stop and rest a bit,” said little 
Mary at last, warm and out of breath. 

The children perched on an old sled standing 
on the barn floor. 

^^Are there any Indians around here now, 
Agrippa ? ” asked Israel. 

I ’ve never seen any,” said Agrippa, but I 
would love to.” 


THE ARRIVAL. 13 

So would I/^ said Israel. I ’d like noth- 
ing better.” 

‘‘Oh, ho/’ said Eunice, “I’ll warrant you’d 
both run as fast as any of us at sight of one.” 

“There used to be plenty of them about 
here,” said Agrippa, “ and not so very long 
ago, either. You ought to hear my father tell 
about Indians. He has fought them plenty of 
times.” 

“ Major Barnard told us a good Indian story 
last night, when we stopped at his house for 
supper,” said Israel. “ And it was true, too.” 

“ What was it ? ” asked Agrippa. 

“ He and father were talking about the 
French and Indian wars. Major Barnard was 
one of the soldiers in Fort William Henry when 
it was taken by Montcalm. Major Barnard 
said the French and their Indian allies — they 
had two or three thousand Indians with them — 
outnumbered the English two to one. The fort 
held out for six days, and then Colonel Munroe 
surrendered it, on condition that the French 
would escort his men in safety to Fort Edward, 
the nearest English post. This Montcalm 
promised to do. So Major Barnard said the 
English marched out, supposing themselves safe, 
as they had Montcalm’s promise. But hardly 


14 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

were our men outside the fort when this swarm 
of bloodthirsty Indians fell on them with horrid 
whoops and yells, murdering officers, men, 
women, and children, robbing them of all their 
baggage, even stripping their clothing from 
their backs.’' 

What were the Frenchmen doing ? ” asked 
Agrippa. Why did n’t they keep their word ? ” 
^‘1 don’t know. Major Barnard said they 
simply stood and looked on, making no effort to 
stop the killing. Two Indians seized Major 
Barnard. Each had tight hold of one of his 
hands, and they began to drag him away to the 
woods to strip and murder him.” 

How horrible ! ” said Mehitable. 

Wait till you hear the end. As the Indians 
were dragging him along in this way, they came 
to a steep descent. Now Major Barnard saw 
his chance. As they began to descend this 
steep pitch, Barnard suddenly braced himself 
back, tore his hands from the Indians’ grasp, 
and, seizing the two Indians’ heads, swung them 
together with a mighty crash, stunning them 
both. They rolled down the hill, and the 
major ran for his life, and finally found his 
way through the woods to Fort Edward in 
safety.” 


THE ARRIVAL. 15 

^‘Good! I’m glad he did that/’ said the 
girls. 

‘‘I’ve heard about that fight before/’ said 
Agrippa. “ Captain John Burke of Bernard- 
ston was captured then. Father told me about 
it. The Indians stripped Burke too, but he was 
strong, and managed to escape to Fort Edward. 
But my father can tell as good stories as those, 
of what happened to himself. You ought to 
hear him tell about the time the Indians cap- 
tured him and carried him off to Canada.” 

“ Don’t you think he would tell us about it ? ” 
asked Israel. 

“I love to hear Indian stories, even if they 
do frighten me,” said Eunice. 

“ So do I,” piped up little William. 

“Maybe father’ll tell us his adventures this 
evening, if he is n’t too busy,” said Agrippa. 
“I’ll watch a chance to ask him.” 


CHAPTER II. 

CAPTAIN 'grip’s STORY. 

T hat evening, when supper was over, the 
packing done, and the little children asleep 
in their trundle beds, the parents and older chil- 
dren of both families sat around the blazing fire 
in the big living-room, welcoming the oppor- 
tunity for peaceful rest and quiet visiting after 
the day’s toil. 

While the fathers discussed the state of the 
country and the mothers their domestic affairs, 
the boys were playing fox and geese on a home- 
made board, marked with a red-hot poker on 
one side for checkers, on the other for fox 
and geese. Mary and Patience were entertain- 
ing young John Wells, son of Colonel Samuel 
Wells, another cousin, who lived at the west 
end of Greenfield’s main street. He had come 
up to aid his cousin Agrippa in moving and 
driving down his stock, and was happy to make 
the acquaintance of the pretty girls from Con- 
necticut, cousins of his own age. True, they 



At last the captain began, the children gathering eagerly 
close around him.” — Page 17. 


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captain ^grip's story. 17 

were only fourth cousins, but fourth cousinship 
is sometimes a most precious relation. 

Neither Eunice nor Israel had forgotten the 
Indian stories. Eunice came over to the boys 
and whispered to Agrippa: 

You know what you promised us, Agrippa ? 

Yes, those Indian stories. Do get him to 
tell them,” said Israel. 

Agrippa waited until there was a pause in 
the elders’ talk, and then said to his father: 

Sir, our cousins here are anxious to hear the 
story of your adventures among the Indians.” 

Oh, that’s a pretty old story now,” said 
Captain Agrippa. 

But it is one that will well bear retelling,” 
said Captain David. “ While I know something 
of your experiences, I have never heard the par- 
ticulars, and should enjoy hearing the full story 
from your own lips.” 

Mrs. Wells too joined in the entreaty, and at 
last the captain began, the children gathering 
eagerly close around him, to lose not a word. 

I went out in Captain Jonathan Burbank’s 
company in Rogers’ Rangers, in April, 1758,” 
said the captain. We were sent out on the 
frontier, to do garrison duty and scouting, and 
were camped on Lake George. One day in 
2 


18 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

June a small party of us were ordered to scout 
up around Sabbath Day Point, on the west 
shore of Lake George. Our men were Martin 
and Matthew Severance of Deerfield — by the 
way, David, Martin Severance has settled in 
Shelburne/* 

Has he ? In what part ? 

Over at Salmon Falls. He and James Ryder 
were the first settlers in town, but the taking 
of Fort Massachusetts and the slaying of Captain 
Rice at Charlemont drove them away. Martin 
returned at the end of the war.** 

He has been a valiant soldier,** said Captain 
David. 

None braver. Out in all the wars since he 
was twenty. But to go on with my story. 
William Clark of Coleraine was also in our 
party. While we four were scouting around 
Sabbath Day Point, a band of Indians, twenty 
strong, fell upon us and took us captive, and 
ofi we had to march for Canada. Luckily it 
was June, so food was fairly plenty, and we 
at least fared as well as our Indian masters. 
I can’t say our rations were equal to my wife’s 
cooking, but they served to hold soul and body 
together. 

We discovered later that our captors were 


CAPTAIN 'grip’s STORY. 


19 


feeding us, not out of kindness, — far from it, — 
but to keep us strong for a grand exhibition they 
meant to give on arrival home. When at last 
we reached the Indian village, there was a great 
powwow. The whole tribe turned out to greet 
us, whooping, howling, and dancing around us 
in triumph. 

Before long we saw the Indians forming 
themselves in two long lines, opposite each 
other. Every Indian in the village was stand- 
ing in these lines, even to the boys and old 
squaws, all bearing some kind of a weapon, if 
only a switch. 

^ It ’s plain what that means,’ said Martin 
Severance to me. ^ These Indians are not up 
for a contra dance. We’ve got to run the 
gauntlet.’ 

^^Here two Indians seized me, stripped me 
of every rag of clothes, and dressed me up in 
an old squaw’s deerskin shirt, jeering at me as 
they pulled it over my head.” 

The young people laughed at this. 

I see the young folks laughing,” said Captain 
Agrippa. The Severances and Clark, though 
they were in the same boat with me, could not 
help laughing either, on seeing me in that rig. 
But I tell you, I did n’t feel a bit like laughing. 


20 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

I was mad clear through, mad enough to have 
killed half a dozen Indians, if I only could. 

The next thing, we all had to run, one after 
the other, down between these two rows of In- 
dians, who each tried to give us a cut, a stab, 
or a blow as we dashed by. I was only twenty 
then, strong as a young lion, and so mad it 
doubled my strength. I resolved to do my 
best. Stripped as I was I knew it would be 
easy running. 

When my turn came, with a whoop and a 
dash I bounded into the lines, and away I went 
like lightning. The Indians were so surprised 
at my boldness that they hardly rallied soon 
enough to give me many clips, and I was near- 
ing the lower end when an old squaw stepped 
out and gave me a hard blow with a big club. 
That was too much. I turned and gave her 
such a kick in the stomach that she doubled up 
and keeled over backwards, screeching, while I 
shot out at the lower end of the line.’^ 

^^I should have thought the Indians would 
have killed you for that,’’ said Israel. 

“ I thought the same,” said Captain Agrippa. 

But they admired me for it ; thought I was a 
lad of spirit, and proceeded at once to adopt me 
into the tribe. I was not a very contented son, 


CAPTAIN 'grip’s STORY. 


21 


I can tell you. I tried to make the best of it, 
but I can never tell how thankful I was, a little 
later, to be taken to France as a prisoner of 
war. Anything was better than living among 
the Indians. I stayed among the parlez-vous a 
while until an exchange of prisoners was made, 
when I came home by way of England." 

^^You did not get back in time to join the 
expedition of Rogers’ Rangers against St. Fran- 
cis ? ’’ said Captain David. 

No, that was over before I returned. I 
should have liked nothing better than a chance 
to pay the Indians back in their own coin. The 
boys had hard times, though.” 

^‘Tell us about it, Cousin ’Grip,” said John 
Wells. 

I ’ve heard the whole story often from some 
of the boys who were out with Rogers. In 
October, 1759, Rogers was at Crown Point, 
when General Amherst ordered him and his 
Rangers to make a raid on St. Francis and 
destroy the place.” 

« Why did he pick out St. Francis rather than 
any other Indian village ? ” asked Israel. 

‘^St. Francis had been the headquarters of 
such terrible bloody raids upon the English. 
That is the village where Stephen Williams of 


22 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Deerfield was taken as a captive, and many an- 
other English prisoner. General Amherst felt 
it must be destroyed, just as you would destroy 
a hornet’s nest.” 

Where is St. Francis ? ” asked Eunice. 

Near the mouth of the St. Francis River in 
Canada, where it empties into the St. Lawrence. 
General Amherst charged Rogers to remember 
the barbarities committed by these savages, 
and to show no quarter except to women and 
children.” 

Rogers and about two hundred Rangers 
rowed up Lake Champlain to Missisquoi Bay. 
Here they left their boats with provisions in 
charge of a guard and struck off into the wil- 
derness to the northeast. Two days later the 
guard Rogers had left overtook him, reporting 
that a force of three hundred French and In- 
dians had seized the boats left behind and were 
even now on his trail.” 

‘^A hard situation, that,” said John Wells, 
‘^for a mere handful of Englishmen out there 
in the wilderness, far from any possible help.” 

Rogers and his men didn’t flinch. They 
only pushed on the faster. On their twenty- 
second day out they drew near St. Francis. 
One of the men, who climbed a tall tree, re- 


CAPTAIJ^ 'grip’s story. 


23 


ported the village in sight, so they proceeded 
cautiously. They reached the outskirts of the 
village about dusk, and halted in the woods. 
When night came on, Kogers and two of his 
men dressed themselves up as Indians and went 
into the village." 

How dared they do it ! " exclaimed Patience. 

‘‘They were plucky, clear grit. They found 
a big feast going on, to celebrate a chiefs wed- 
ding, and that the Indians evidently had not a 
suspicion of danger nigh. They came safely 
back to the main body and lay still until towards 
morning, when, the feast being over, all at last 
was quiet in the Indian village. 

“ Then Rogers divided his men into three 
companies, and posted them around St. Francis. 
At three o’ clock in the morning the order was 
given for the attack. Our men marched up to 
the very doors of the wigwams in squads, each 
squad selecting the wigwam to be attacked. At 
the signal, they leaped right in, and did deadly 
execution. Many an Indian was killed before 
he knew what had hurt him. Two-thirds of 
the Indians were slain then and there.’’ 

“ It sounds cruel, like butchery,’’ said Mary. 

“ But think of all the butchery done by these 
very Indians on our people, over and over again. 


24 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

Why, the next morning, when day dawned, our 
men saw over six hundred English scalps hung 
up on poles, blowing in the wind, some bearing 
the long, fair hair of women. That sight in- 
furiated them. They set fire to the wigwams, 
making a clean sweep of the whole place. They 
rescued five English captives held there, and 
took considerable spoil. Also they captured 
two hundred Indians. 

They had obeyed orders and destroyed St. 
Francis. Rogers now hastened to retreat, fear- 
ing his pursuers would soon be upon him. His 
plan was to follow up the St. Francis to Lake 
Memphremagog, then travel across the carrying 
place from the lake to the Connecticut River, 
and thence down the river to Fort No. 4.^ Rogers 
knew that General Amherst had ordered supplies 
sent him from Fort No. 4 to the mouth of the 
Ammonoosuc, there to await his arrival. 

Now began the terrible struggle to get home 
through the unbroken wilderness. The Rangers 
managed to keep together eight days, but soon 
had to release their captives, as their provisions 
began to run low. Then they divided into three 
parties, each under an experienced leader, to 
reach the Ammonoosuc as best they could.” 

1 Charlestown, N. H. 


CAPTAIN 'grip's STORY. 


25 


I should have thought it would have been 
safer for them to keep together," said Lucinda. 

Food was so scarce that small bands stood 
a better chance foraging for game, nuts, and 
roots. Twice Rogers and the men with him 
were attacked by furious savages, and several 
of the English were slain or captured. The 
weather turned terribly cold, and the men suf- 
fered greatly. They were footsore, hungry, and 
cold. Yet still they struggled on, buoyed up by 
the hope of soon reaching the Ammonoosuc, and 
there finding relief. 

Rogers and his party were the first to reach 
the Ammonoosuc. To his dismay he found the 
place deserted. A fresh fire still burning in the 
camp showed that it had but recently been aban- 
doned. Rogers fired guns to call back the sup- 
plies. But the relief party from No. 4, who had 
been there for two days and had but just left, 
being then but six miles away, only hurried the 
faster on hearing the guns, fearing that a band 
of Indians was coming to attack them." 

What a cowardly thing to do ! " exclaimed 
John Wells. 

You may well say that. I guess those cow- 
ards were ashamed of that action to their dying 
day. Rogers and his men were now almost in 


26 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

despair. It seemed as if they must lie down 
there in the woods and die of starvation. Rogers 
saw that the only hope was for him to get down 
to No. 4 as quickly as possible, there secure help 
and food, and come back for the others. He, 
Captain Ogden, and another man managed to 
make a raft of dry pine trees, on which they 
started to float down the river. With their 
hatchets they hewed out something that answered 
for paddles, and by these managed to keep their 
poor raft in the middle of the stream, where 
the current would bear it down. 

The second day they reached White River 
Falls and almost went over them. They lost 
their raft, but had strength left to get ashore 
and walk around the falls. 

Below the falls they had the good fortune 
to kill some red squirrels and a partridge, and 
this food revived them somewhat. It was neces- 
sary to build another raft. Being unable to cut 
down the trees, Rogers burned them down, and 
then burnt the trunks into logs the right length 
for his raft.'' 

It sounds like hard work," said Israel. 

Hard ! I guess it was. No one that has n't 
gone through it can begin to imagine what such 
a struggle of starving men through a wilderness 


CAPTAIN ’grip’s STORY. 


27 


means. On their raft the three men floated 
down to Water Queeche Falls. Now the ques- 
tion was how to get their raft over the falls. 
They must do it or they were lost, for they no 
longer had strength to build another raft. They 
landed, and Captain Ogden managed to hold the 
raft by a withe of bushes while the others went 
below the falls and swam out. The three then 
contrived to get the raft over the falls, paddle it 
to shore, and fasten it. 

‘^They rested there that night. The next 
morning they floated down the river nearly to 
No. 4, when they came upon a party of men 
who helped them down to the fort. As soon 
as they reached the fort and told their story, a 
canoe with food was sent up the river for the 
men left at the Ammonoosuc. Two days later, 
when he had recovered strength, Kogers returned 
up the river with two more canoes loaded with 
provisions. The few survivors rescued were in 
terrible plight. They had lived on such small 
game as they could kill, on roots, nuts, and 
birch-bark, and had even eaten their leathern 
belts and moccasins. Since leaving St. Francis, 
Rogers had lost three lieutenants and forty-six 
privates, mostly from starvation and exposure. 
But that was the end of St. Francis. That 


28 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

was thirteen years ago, and no more Indian 
raids have we had.” 

It is a wonderful story of human endur- 
ance/’ said Captain David. 

And of pluck/’ said Captain Agrippa. Do 
you think, John, you young fellows of to-day 
would be equal to such bravery if we had 
another war ? ” 

We ’ll certainly do our best, sir,” said John. 

Don’t speak of the possibility of another 
war,” said Mrs. David Wells. I confess my 
heart sinks within me at the mere possibility 
of war, with all its horrors. But Eunice, Israel, 
it is long after your bedtime. I ’ve let you sit 
up to hear your cousin’s stories. Say good- 
night. Here’s your candle, Eunice.” 

I ’m afraid to go up in the loft alone,” said 
Eunice, on whom the Indian stories had made 
a deep impression, all the stronger because the 
children vividly realized that they had come out 
into a new, wild region to live, very different 
from their Connecticut home. Can’t I sit up 
till the girls go to bed, mother ? ” 

^^No. Go at once. There are no Indians 
around here now. Good-night, Eunice.” 

Eunice dared say no more, but took her 
candle and climbed up into the loft, with many 
wistful looks back at the cosey fireside. 


CAPTAIN ’grip’s STORY. 


29 


Israel’s lot was still harder. The boys slept 
at the shop/’ a small log building standing a 
few rods from the house. Israel tried to entice 
Larry the dog to go with him. But Larry, 
though he thumped the floor with his tail at 
Israel’s flattering attentions, refused to leave 
his snug berth by the fire. 

Israel would have liked to wait for John; 
but being a boy, he was ashamed to show fear, 
like Eunice. So he banged the outer door behind 
him and sped out to the shop, looking over his 
shoulder as he ran, half fancying he saw an 
Indian stirring behind every bush on the way. 
Swiftly did he plunge into bed and draw the 
blankets well up over his head. 


CHAPTER HI. 


GETTING SETTLED. 

W HEN the others had retired, the two cap- 
tains were left sitting alone by the fire. 
What is the feeling in Connecticut, Cousin 
David ? ” asked Agrippa. Do the leaders think 
the differences between the colonies and the king 
likely to result in war ? ” 

^‘Many feel, with Franklin, that a bloody 
struggle is inevitable, although they are will- 
ing to make all reasonable concessions to avoid 
war. But there is a limit beyond which free 
men cannot go. We must stand, at all haz- 
ards, by our just claim, — no taxation without 
representation.’’ 

Right,” said Captain Agrippa. I agree 
with you, and with Samuel Adams. Let me 
read you something of his from this Boston 
^Gazette’ that young John brought up.” 
Putting on his glasses Captain Agrippa read : 

“ The tragedy of American freedom is nearly com- 
pleted. A t3T:anny seems to be at the very door. 
They who lie under oppression deserve what they 


GETTING SETTLED. 


31 


suffer; let them perish with their oppressors. Could 
millions be enslaved if all possessed the independent 
spirit of Brutus, who, to his immortal honor, expelled 
the tyrant of Rome and his royal and rebellious race ? 
The liberties of our country are worth defending at 
all hazards. If we should suffer them to be wrested 
from us, millions yet unborn may be the sharers of 
the event. Every step has been taken but one ; and 
the last appeal would require prudence, unanimity, 
and fortitude. America must herself, under God, 
finally work out her own salvation.” 

Strong words, and true,'’ said Captain David. 
‘^1 confess it looks to me like stormy days 
ahead.” 

Well, if it comes to ^ the last appeal,' I for 
one stand ready to do my part,” said Captain 
Agrippa. Britons never will be slaves,' as 
the old song says.” 

^^No, we will fight it out to the end,” said 
Captain David. 

The next morning Captain Agrippa and fam- 
ily, aided by young John Wells, set out for 
their new home in Greenfield. David Wells and 
family were left alone in the log house, sur- 
rounded by woods, far from any other dwelling. 

There were almost no roads in the town. 
The old Albany road from Deerfield passed 
through the southern part of the town to Salmon 


32 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

Falls, on through Charlemont, and thence, by 
the Cold River Trail, over Hoosae Mountain. 
This was the chief thoroughfare from the settle- 
ments below to the west. Another rude road, 
but little more than a bridle path, led from the 
Albany road north to Coleraine, passing Cap- 
tain Wells* house. Bridle-paths led through the 
woods from farm to farm, and to the centre, 
where stood the log meeting-house, on one of the 
highest hills in hilly Shelburne. 

Captain Welk sadly missed the help of his two 
oldest sons, David and Noah, who had remained 
in Colchester to care for the cattle. But he 
went valiantly to work with such help as he 
could get out of Israel, to start operations on 
the new farm. 

One fine morning in March, when a sharp, 
frosty night was followed by brilliant sunshine 
and a soft air that hinted of coming spring. 
Captain Wells said, as he came in with his milk 
pails : 

This is a good sugar morning. Sap would 
run to-day in streams.** 

Why don*t you tap some of the big maples 
around here and make some sugar, father ? ** 

I want to, but I hardly see how I can manage 
it, I am so busy, without the boys to help.*’ 


GETTING SETTLED. 


33 


We ’ll help you, father,” cried Mary, Pa- 
tience, and Lucinda, all together. We can 
gather sap as well as the boys.” 

I ’d love to help,” said Eunice. 

With so many valiant helpers I ought to be 
encouraged,” said their father, laughing. 

The captain yielded to the persuasions of his 
family and tapped a number of large maples of 
the original forest still standing on the home lot 
of several acres, and also some trees at the edge 
of the all-surrounding woods. 

The girls kept their word. Young, straight, 
and strong, in the full bloom and vigor of young 
womanhood, they made little work of putting sap 
yokes on their shoulders, with a sap bucket hang- 
ing on each side, and going out on the crust to 
the near by trees to gather the sap. They were 
much aided, as she thought, by Eunice, who ran 
along with them, to help empty the buckets. 

Well, Eunice,” said Patience, ^^if we have 
much such help as yours, it will save trouble, for 
we shall not have enough sap left to boil down.” 

Eunice was standing with her head thrown 
back, drinking deeply from a bucket. 

That is the sweetest one yet,” said Eunice. 

I only wanted to see which was the sweetest.” 

I want some. I love sap,” said William. 

3 


34 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

So do we all,” said Mary. But if we all 
drank all we could, woe to our sugar. But give 
Billy a drink, Eunice.” 

The girls came in from their walk on the crust 
with blooming cheeks. Their mother, secretly 
proud of her pretty girls, but, with true New 
England reserve, careful not to hint a compli- 
ment, said, — 

You girls look as if farm work agreed with 
you.” 

I ’d rather be outdoors gathering sap any 
time than indoors spinning,” said Patience. 

Or weaving,” said Mary. 

Or washing dishes,” said Lucinda. 

^^Tut, tut,” said the mother, reprovingly. 

Spinning and weaving and housework are 
women’s proper work. Don’t let me hear you 
speak against either. Where ’s Eunice ? ” 

She has gone off on the sled with father and 
Israel, to help gather sap from the woods.” 

She ought to be knitting her stint now,” said 
the mother. But never mind, if she can be of 
any help to your father.” 

Eunice was enjoying her present duties even 
more than knitting her stint. It was great fun 
standing on the sled with Israel, holding by the 
stakes, gliding along over the hard crust, with 


GETTING SETTLED. 


35 


many a jar and bump as the sled hit some pro- 
jecting rock. William sat on the sled bottom, 
getting the full benefit of every bump, while 
Larry travelled many miles as he ran hither 
and thither far over the fields and up into 
the woods, stopping to sniff and dig at every 
woodchuck hole or squirrel track. 

Eunice and Israel ran up into the woods and 
brought out the sap buckets to their father, who 
emptied them into the barrel on the sled. 

would be afraid to come up here in the 
woods alone, without father, would n’t you, 
Israel ? ” said Eunice. 

Oh, I should n’t mind it,” said Israel. 

I guess if you were followed by a pack of 
wolves, like Daniel Nims, you would mind it.” 

What was it about Daniel Nims ? ” 

‘^Didn’t you hear Cousin John Wells tell 
about that the other night ? Daniel Nims lives 
over beyond the centre. He was riding home one 
night through the woods when he heard wolves on 
his track. The howling grew louder and nearer. 
He put spurs to his horse and rode as fast as he 
could. He had just reached home, put up his horse 
safely, and entered the house, when a great pack 
of hungry wolves rushed into his yard. He 
escaped, but they killed one of his best calves.” 


36 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

The moral is/’ said her father, that we 
must examine the barnyard palisades right 
away and make sure that they are tight.” 

Mrs. Wells and her daughters had charge of 
boiling down the sap and sugaring off. It was 
Saturday, near noon. Mrs. Wells was busy 
with her baking, — an important work in a 
family as large as hers. The brick oven had 
been heated, and out of it now, with the long- 
handled peel,” she was drawing the coals, pre- 
paring to slide in the ten loaves of rye and 
Indian bread which rose high above their pans 
on the hearth. Patience was watching a large 
kettle of syrup hanging over the fire, whose 
boiling and bubbling indicated that it was nearly 
done. Eunice was taking care of baby Walter, 
who was running about, into everything, unless 
vigilantly watched. 

^‘This sugar is about done,” said Patience, 
holding up the ladle. See, it strings down.” 

^^I’ll get some snow to try it,” said Eunice, 
seizing a pan and running out to a big snow- 
bank still lying north of the house. 

^^Me go, too,” said Walter, heading for the 
door. 

Mary, who was spinning at the big wheel 
one side of the room, ran after and captured 


GETTING SETTLED. 37 

Walter, half stumbling over Larry as she turned, 
the dog being close behind her. 

Dear me,’^ said Mary, I wish Eunice would 
attend to her own work. I never shall get this 
bunch of rolls spun if I have to mind Walter.’’ 

Where ’s Lucinda ? ” 

She ’s out at the shop doing something.” 

Look out, Walter ! He almost sat down on 
one of your loaves of bread then, mother.” 

Eunice, meantime, had given the signal to the 
other children, The sugar ’s done ! ” and they 
all came flocking in. Patience filled the saucers 
with hot sugar, and Eunice’s pan of snow, well 
packed down, was soon covered with brown 
patches of sugar, turning to a delicious maple 
wax. 

^^It looks like the map of the world,” said 
Eunice, as she spread on her sugar. See, this 
is North America, and this South America, and 
this is Africa.” 

^^I’ll swallow South America at one mouth- 
ful,” said Israel, as he thrust his spoon into that 
continent. 

That’s mine. Keep your own side of the 
pan, Israel,” said Eunice. 

Don’t quarrel, children,” said the mother. 

There is plenty for you all.” 


38 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SFVEN. 

There was not the least trouble to keep 
Walter quiet now, as he sat in Lucinda’s lap 
eating waxed maple sugar. Although a sugar- 
ing off” came almost daily, the children were 
able to eat as much each time as if it had been 
an entire novelty. 

Mrs. Wells had put into the brick oven a 
large pot of beans, with a piece of salt pork in 
the centre. This would be left in the oven 
until Sunday morning, furnishing both break- 
fast and supper for that day, when all unnec- 
essary work must be avoided. 

After supper Israel said : 

Come on outdoors and play, Eunice.” 

Eunice was reaching for her hood, when her 
mother said : 

Children, you forget that it is Saturday 
night. The sun is just setting. You must 
keep quiet now, and read your books, and get 
ready for Sunday.” 

The children subsided at once, for well they 
knew playing to be forbidden on Saturday night. 
Sunday began at sundown, and must be strictly 
observed until sundown of the Sabbath. 

Anyway, I am glad to-morrow is Sunday,” 
said Eunice, ^^for I want to see the meeting- 
house and the neighbors.” 


GETTING SETTLED. 


39 


All the family shared Eunice’s feeling, for, 
living in so isolated a place, it was natural they 
should be interested to see something of the 
town, and the people among whom their lot was 
henceforth to be cast. 

Father says it looks like rain,” said Lucinda. 

If it rains, we cannot go.” 

The sky was overcast with clouds, and an east 
wind full of dampness seemed to portend rain. 

Oh, dear, I think it will be a shame if it 
rains ! ” exclaimed Eunice. 

Eunice ! I am surprised,” said her mother. 

Never complain of the weather God sends. He 
know best.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


TO MEETING. 

T he next morning Eunice and Lucinda 
woke their sisters early by hopping from 
bed and running to peep from the loft's east- 
ward window. 

^^Oh, girls/' cried Eunice, ^^do wake! It is 
the loveliest morning you ever saw ! The sun 
is just coming up over the hills, bright and clear. 
It rained in the night, and then turned cold and 
froze, and everything is coated with ice, glis- 
tening in the sun 1 ” 

^‘It almost puts my eyes out, everything 
shines so," said Lucinda. 

Mary and Patience, glad to hear that the day 
was fair, forgave their sisters for waking them 
so early and joined with them in admiring the 
beauty of the outdoor world. Every tree was 
coated with ice to its least twig, gleaming like 
silver in the morning sunlight, and tinkling a 
bit as the breeze smote the branches together. 
Even the seedy weed stalks that rose above the 
snow glittered in beauty. 


TO MEETING. 


41 


After breakfast the women hurried to do 
the morning work and dress for meeting. The 
coals in the fireplace were carefully banked with 
ashes to keep a fire until the family returned. 

Captain Wells and Israel saddled the horses 
and brought them up to the horse-block. It 
was not considered necessary to lock the outer 
doors, as it was quite certain that no human 
being would come in the vicinity during their 
absence. 

Captain Wells took baby Walter in front of 
his saddle, holding the little one firmly with his 
left arm, while his right hand held the bridle 
rein. Walters face beamed with smiles, he 
was so happy to be on father’s big horse, help- 
ing father drive, as he fondly fancied, because 
he was allowed to hold one end of the bridle. 
Eunice rode on the pillion behind her father. 

Mrs. Wells took the lively William on the 
pillion behind her, saying as they started; 

Now remember, William, you must sit still. 
Don’t kick old Whitey and try to make her 
trot, for the hills are steep, and we must let 
her take it easily. Hold on tightly.” 

Lucinda rode on the pillion behind Mary, 
while it was Patience’s doom to ride behind 
Israel. Israel intended to go in the rear, having 


42 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

planned to perform certain tricks likely to 
frighten Patience. But his wise father said : 

‘^Here, Israel, you ride next to me and let 
your mother go last.” 

Larry capered and barked for joy around the 
horses, excited by the coming expedition. 

^^Is Larry going to meeting, too?” asked 
Eunice. 

‘^He will have to,” said the captain. 
cannot leave him here alone all day.” 

Mrs. Wells wore a red and green plaid cloak, 
coming nearly to the bottom of her dress, and a 
pumpkin hood of green quilted silk. The girls 
were clad in long scarlet cloaks, and hoods 
fitting closely around their fair faces. All the 
women wore over their dresses as a protection 
a plain skirt called a safeguard,” which would 
be taken off and thrown across the saddle 
on reaching the meeting-house. Captain Wells 
wore ^^splatter-dashes,” reaching to his knees, 
over his silk stockings and buckled shoes. 

The procession started and wound along the 
narrow bridle-path through the woods, marked 
by blazed trees, up hill and down, towards the 
centre of the town. 

Although the trees’ icy coating was beginning 
to thaw slightly, and bits of ice came tinkling 


TO MEETING. 


43 


down with every puff of wind, pricking the 
horses and making them jump, to Israel's joy, 
still enough ice remained to transform the 
wintry woods into a scene of beauty. The 
boughs of every hemlock and pine were weighed 
down with glistening ice, and the aisles of the 
woods were like an enchanted land. The air 
was fresh and pure, as the blooming cheeks of 
the whole party testified. 

On one height Captain Wells turned and 
said : 

‘‘Do you see that blue peak far off in the 
northeast? That is Mt. Monadnock in New 
Hampshire." 

At last they reached the steepest, longest hill 
they had yet encountered. 

“ This is our last hill," said the cap- 
tain. “ The meeting-house is on top of this 
hill." 

A loud blast resounded over the hills, waking 
the echoes far and near as they were climb- 
ing this hill, the stout horses steadily pegging 
their way up, step by step, with their solid 
loads. 

“There goes the conch shell! We shall be 
late," said Israel, trying to hasten his horse. 

“ No," said his father, “ do not try to hurry 


44 BOYS AND GIKLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Ned on this hill. The conch shell is always 
blown a good quarter of an hour before meet- 
ing begins, to warn all laggards.’^ 

Arrived at last on the summit, they rode up 
to the big horse-block in front of the square, log 
meeting-house. 

^^This doesn’t look much like Colchester 
meeting-house,” said Patience. 

‘^Or the stately meeting-house with the gilt 
weathercock on its tall spire that we saw as we 
rode through Deerfield,” said Lucinda. 

You must remember that Shelburne is only 
newly settled,” said their father. ^‘No doubt 
we too shall have a nice meeting-house, all in 
good time. It is a sightly situation.” 

One looking ofi from meeting-house hill on the 
landscape around could well realize that Shel- 
burne was a mountain town. In every direction 
rolled a sea of hills and valleys, covered with 
the original forest, with but a few breaks of 
cleared land. 

An open space back of the meeting-house had 
been reserved for a burying-ground and was sur- 
rounded by a rude fence. There were but one 
or two graves in it as yet. To the fence were 
tied a number of saddle-horses, those with pil- 
lions usually having a safeguard skirt thrown 


TO MEETING. 


45 


across the saddle, to be donned again when the 
fair owner should start for home. 

Several men gathered before the meeting-house 
now came forward to greet the newcomers cor- 
dially, and assist them to dismount. In this 
early stage of the town’s settlement the arrival 
of a reputable settler and man of family, like 
Captain Wells, was most welcome. 

Among those advancing to greet the Wellses 
was one whom Captain Wells saluted as “ Cousin 
John” and hastened to introduce to his wife, 
saying : 

Mary, this is our cousin John Wells, of whom 
I have told you.” 

Welcome to Shelburne, Cousin Mary,” said 
John Wells. My wife and all our women will 
be glad to make your acquaintance.” 

This John Wells had been among the earliest 
settlers of Shelburne. He had married Tamar 
Eice, daughter of Captain Moses Rice of Charle- 
mont, and had bought a farm at Deerfiejd 
Northwest,” as Shelburne was then called, mov- 
ing up from Deerfield soon after the close of the 
French and Indian wars. He was town clerk 
and a leading man. He was second cousin to 
both Captain David Wells and Captain Agrippa. 

Escorted by their cousin John, the Wellses 


46 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

filed into the little meeting-house. There were 
no pews. The people sat on benches, the women 
one side the centre aisle, the men the other. 
Israel walked forward and took a seat with the 
other boys of the town on the pulpit’s steps. 
Abner Nims, the tithing-man, armed with his 
stout . tithing-stick, judiciously sat not far from 
the boys. 

Larry, head and ears hanging down, humbly 
followed his master into the meeting-house and 
curled up at his feet quietly for the whole service, 
paying no attention to the overtures of John 
Taylor’s dog under a neighboring bench, who 
evidently wished to strike up an acquaintance 
then and there. For Larry had been to meeting 
before, and well knew the conduct expected 
from all self-respecting dogs. He also knew 
what the dog-whipper was apt to do if any dog 
forgot himself and disturbed the peace of the 
sanctuary. 

Although the sun shone so brightly without, 
the meeting-house, warmed by no fire, after stand- 
ing closed all the week, was chilly and damp. 
Mr. Robert Hubbard, the young minister, cer- 
tainly needed the cloak and mittens he wore 
while preaching. Mrs. Wells wished she had 
brought her foot-stove, as she drew her cloak 


TO MEETING. 


47 


more closely around little Walter, who, after his 
ride, slept peacefully on her lap through the long 
service. 

The boys on the pulpit stairs kicked and 
pounded their feet to warm them all they dared, 
with furtive eyes on Abner Nims, who, they well 
knew, would not suffer things to go too far. As 
Mr. Hubbard only turned the hour-glass once 
during his sermon, the service was considered a 
short one. The brief nooning was spent at the 
tavern near the meeting-house. The men in the 
barroom, and the women and girls in an adjoin- 
ing room, were only too glad to gather around 
the blazing fires in the huge fireplaces and thaw 
their fingers as they ate their luncheons of 
doughnuts, cheese, and gingerbread. Eunice 
and Lucinda did not forget to throw Larry the 
bits which he sat, head and ears up, eagerly 
expecting. 

Much visiting was always done during the 
Sunday nooning. The people, living scattered 
on solitary farms, welcomed this opportunity to 
meet and exchange news. Mary and Patience 
were glad to make the acquaintance of Phoebe 
Hubbard, the minister's pretty sister who was 
visiting him from Middletown, Connecticut, and 
others of the young girls of their own age, while 


48 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Lucinda and Eunice made rapid progress in 
becoming friends with Daniel Nims’s daughters, 
Dorothy Kemp, the Ransom girls, and others. 
Israel, walking around outdoors with some of 
the boys, was also improving his time. 

hope. Cousin Mary/’ said Mrs. Tamar 
Wells, ‘^you will not be discouraged and lose 
heart at coming up here in the woods to live. 
You must find it a great change from the older 
settlements in Connecticut.” 

came prepared to find things new and 
different,” said Mrs. Wells. David had told 
me what to expect. I have been so busy since 
our arrival that there has been little time to be 
home-sick, though I confess I have felt some 
pangs of longing for Colchester and my old 
home.” 

That is but natural,” said Mrs. Tamar Wells. 

I ’ve often heard my mother say how her heart 
sank within her when we first arrived at our re- 
mote home in Charlemont. We children were, 
of course, pleased with the novelty of everything, 
but I fancy mother suffered more than she ever 
admitted.” 

And she had the constant fear of Indians 
overhanging her,” said Mrs. Robert Wilson. 

Yes, poor mother,” said Mrs. Tamar Wells, 


TO MEETING. 


49 


with a saddened look, as she thought of all the 
horrors her mother and all the family had en- 
dured when her father, Captain Rice, was slain 
by the Indians. 

That is at least one comfort we can have,’’ 
said Mrs. David Wells, the feeling that Indian 
onslaughts are over, never to return.” 

This feeling of relief is so recent,” said Mrs. 
Wilson, that we can hardly realize it yet. I 
confess I cannot overcome a nervous dread of 
Indians. I don’t like to be left alone on the 
farm.” 

No wonder you feel so,” said Mrs. John 
Taylor. “Mrs. Wilson has had painful experi- 
ences with Indians.” 

“ Were you ever attacked, Mrs. Wilson ? ” 
asked Mrs. Wells, while Lucinda and Eunice, 
who, like Mrs. Wilson, felt that Indians might 
still frequent Shelburne, listened with eager 
attention. 

“ Not attacked, but we expected to be. Our 
farm lies, as you all know, near the Coleraine 
line,” said Mrs. Wilson. “ When we first settled 
there, Indians were still around. We lived in 
constant fear of them. If Mr. Wilson went out 
in the woods hunting or making sugar when 
snow lay on the ground, he was always careful 

4 


50 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

to take a different path home for fear savages 
might be lying in ambush on his track. One 
cold winter’s night, when my first baby was but 
a few weeks old, a Coleraine neighbor, riding 
past, stopped to warn us that signs of Indians 
had been seen in our vicinity. 

felt I ought to put you on your guard, 
Wilson,’ he said, ^ as you live here so alone.’ 

“ My husband decided that our safest plan 
was to make for the South Fort, over the line in 
Coleraine. It was several miles to the fort, and 
the snow was deep, but I did not mind that. 
Anything to escape the Indians. Robert took 
his gun and I the baby, and we set forth in the 
darkness, wading through the snow. When, near 
midnight, we drew near the fort, we heard guns 
and knew that it was attacked by Indians ! ” 

What could you do then ? ” asked Mrs. Wells, 
while the girls listened with breathless interest. 

We hardly knew what to do,” said Mrs. 
Wilson, her face pale as the horror of that 
moment came freshly back. My strength 
was completely exhausted. I could not pos- 
sibly walk back to our house, which might 
already be rifled and burned for aught we 
knew. We ventured on, nearer the fort, and, 
to our joy, found that the Indians were all 


TO MEETING. 


51 


on its north side. By God’s aid, as I always 
felt, we succeeding in reaching the south gate 
undiscovered and in making ourselves heard, and 
were safely admitted. I have never ceased to 
thank the Lord for our escape ; but the horror 
of those Indian guns and war-whoops still cleaves 
to me.” 

It is not strange,” said Mrs. Wells. But 
happily we know that that danger is over now.” 

‘^Yes, unless we have war with the mother 
country, which some predict,” said Mrs. Law- 
rence Kemp. In that event the British might 
let loose on us the Canadian Indians.” 

Don’t speak of such a horrible possibility,” 
said Mrs. Severance as she threw more wood 
on the blazing fire. 

Here a long-drawn blast from the conch 
shell resounded over the hills and all hastened 
back to the meeting-house for the afternoon 
service. 

When the Wellses reached home late that 
afternoon, they found their deserted house still 
standing. 

The Indians have n’t burned our house 
down,” said Eunice. 

I hope they have n’t eaten our beans,” said 
Israel, for I am hungry enough to make way 


52 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

with the whole of them myself, bean pot and 
all.” 

Every one shared Israel’s feeling, after the 
meagre cold luncheon and the three mile ride in 
the fresh air. The hot baked beans from the 
oven, mother’s rye and Indian bread, and cider 
apple-sauce, soon suffered an inroad nearly as 
destructive as an Indian raid. 


CHAPTER V. 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 

T own meeting came the last of March. On 
Sunday Mrs. Wells had been told by her 
new friends that it was the custom of the Shel- 
burne women to attend town meeting with their 
husbands, — not to vote, or take part in the 
meetings. But, as they lived so widely apart, 
there were few opportunities of meeting, and 
the women were therefore glad to embrace this 
chance of coming together and visiting while 
their husbands transacted the town business. 

Mrs. Wells, being the mother of nine children, 
had come to have full faith in the old couplet : 

“Satan finds some mischief still 
For idle bands to do.-* 

Before departing, she was careful to provide 
each child with occupation. 

Mary,” she said, this will be a good time 
for you and Patience to wash and cleanse that 
new yarn. Hang on the big kettle. Patience 
will help you.” 


54 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

^^All right, mother/’ said the brisk Mary. 

We will have it done before you get back.” 

Lucinda, I want you and Israel to card that 
wool out in the shop, and have it ready for me 
to work into rolls to-morrow.” 

Israel slouched on the settle by the fire, legs 
stretched out, eating an apple and toasting his 
feet. His attitude did not indicate a surplus of 
energy. 

What, all that wool, mother?” he asked in 
a complaining tone. We can't begin to do it 
in a day. I hate to card wool, anyway.” 

^^Oh, come along, Israel,” said Lucinda. 

Let’s get right at it!” 

Israel ^hates’ almost any kind of work, 
don’t you, Israel ? ” asked Mary. 

Don’t pick at Israel, Mary,” said the mother, 
adding emphatically : 

Israel, do as I say.” 

Israel dared not loiter longer, but pulled 
himself together and dragged slowly off to the 
shop, where his businesslike sister Lucinda was 
already seated, wool-cards in hand, drawing the 
greasy wool across their teeth. 

Mrs. Wells disguised to herself the fact that 
Israel was a little inclined to that worst sin in 
New England eyes, laziness, by feeling that he 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 55 

was delicate, owing to a severe illness in his 
infancy. 

Israel has never recovered from that attack 
of scarlet fever/’ she was wont to say. He has 
never been so strong and capable as the other 
children.” 

I hate carding wool/’ said Israel again, as 
he seated himself in the shop and slowly picked 
up his cards and bunch of wool. 

^^Well, who does love it?” asked Lucinda. 

I ’m sure I don’t. But it has to be done, or 
where would our clothes and stockings come 
from, I should like to know ? My way is, if I 
have to do anything I hate, why just go at it, 
and get it over with.” 

“It’s easy talking,” said the unconverted 
Israel. 

Mrs. Wells said to Eunice : 

“ I want you, Eunice, to take care of William 
and Walter, and keep them out of mischief. 
And you may wind off all the skeins of yarn 
you can on the clock-reel.” 

“ I ’ll do the best I can, mother,” said Eunice, 
who well knew that to keep William and Walter 
out of mischief was no sinecure. 

Here Captain Wells rode his bay horse up to 
the door. Mrs. Wells put her knitting into her 


56 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTT-SEYEN. 

capacious pocket, mounted on the pillion, and 
set off, saying: 

Good-by, children. Be good children while 
I am away. Don’t let the little boys go near 
the fire, Eunice.” 

This was far easier said than done. The 
two little fellows, full of life and activity, kept 
Eunice running, first after one, then after the 
other. She set out the clock-reel and began 
winding yarn, as her mother had directed. But 
first she had to run to rescue Walter from the 
blue-dye tub. One hand was already well in, 
and he was about to drop in his mother’s cape, 
saying : 

Make it all pretty.” 

^^Now, Walter, you mustn’t do that. Come 
over and help sister wind the yarn. Listen. 
Pretty soon the reel will say ‘ click ! ’ William, 
what are you doing ? ” 

William held a long pine splinter which he 
had set on fire. He was waving the blazing 
brand dangerously near his frock. 

William ! Drop that ! ” 

^^This is my gun. I’m going hunting for 
bears,” said William. 

^^Me want gun. Me hunt,” said Walter, 
running towards the fire. 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 


57 


William ! Drop that ! Throw it in the fire 
at once ! Did n’t you hear mother say you were 
not to go near the fire ? ” 

William laughed roguishly and started to run 
away. Making for the outer door, he bumped 
into Patience, who was entering with a pail of 
water from the spring, which gushed out of the 
hillside below the house. 

The collision emptied the pail, dividing its 
contents impartially between William himself. 
Patience’s gown, and the floor. 

Patience needed all the virtue implied by her 
name, as she wrung out her dress, wiped up the 
floor, and went back for another pail of water. 
But she was good-natured and only said : 

You did n’t mean to do it, did you, Billy ? 
Accidents will happen sometimes.” 

‘‘ Eunice,” said Mary, you will have to take 
the boys out to the shop. We can never get 
ahead with our work while the two of them are 
scampering around here, into everything. And 
I ’m afraid they may get scalded with our ket- 
tles of hot water, do our best.” 

The yarn in the large kettle hanging over 
the fire had to be rinsed and rerinsed, scoured 
through many waters, then hung out to dry. 
When dry, it must be brought in and carefully 


58 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

sorted. In the large family constant industry 
was needed to keep all in clothes, for nearly 
everything was home raised and home made. 

To the shop Eunice and the little boys now 
went. Here Eunice found some safe tools she 
could let them play with, provided she was 
watchful not to let Walter hit William with 
his wooden mallet, or William hurt himself or 
any one else with the flax swingle. 

As the children were all busy and happily 
chatting, suddenly Lucinda said : 

Hark, boys ! Keep still a minute. I heard 
a strange noise.” 

All kept quiet and listened. From outdoors, 
through the stillness, came a distant yelling or 
whooping. 

What can that be ? ” asked Lucinda, looking 
frightened. 

The children were well aware that they were 
here alone in the forest, far from any other 
house; and they had heard so many true In- 
dian stories since their arrival that they were 
ready to be easily frightened. They listened 
with quickened heart-beats. 

The whooping drew nearer. It evidently 
came from the woods on the hill southwest of 
the house. 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 


59 


It ’s Indians ! ” cried Eunice. They 're 
coming to kill us ! ” 

Yes, it is Indians,” said Lucinda, as the wild 
cries grew still nearer. 

She seized Walter, Israel took William in his 
arms, and all five fled to the house, bursting 
into the kitchen with the cry : 

The Indians ! The Indians 1 They 're com- 
ing, girls. They 're close by ! Oh, what can 
we do ! Oh, if father were only here ! '' 

Mary and Patience had been so busily at work 
among their clattering pots and pans that they 
had not heard the noise. 

Are you children crazy ? What are you 
talking about ? ” asked Mary. 

Hark ! ” said Patience, growing pale, as she 
too heard the strange whooping. She and Mary 
were now convinced that a band of Indians was 
indeed upon them. 

The younger children took refuge in the loft, 
dragging William and Walter with them, both 
of whom were crying at the top of their voices, 
frightened by the general panic, although without 
knowing why. 

Patience hastily dropped into its iron sockets 
the wooden bar that bolted the outer door, while 
Mary, pale but resolute, took down the long-bar- 


60 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

relied flintlock musket, that was always kept 
loaded on the hooks over the fireplace. 

We must try to save the children and 
ourselves/* she said. 

Here came a trampling of feet outside, and 
then a knock at the door! 

Patience ventured to peep out. Then she 
laughed joyously. 

^^Why, Mary,” she cried, they are white 
boys 1 ** 

The girls hastened to unlock the door. There 
stood eight or ten boys of varying ages, with 
friendly though bashful smiles. 

We are some of your neighbors from over in 
the west part of the town,** said young Taylor, 
one of the older boys. Seeing it was town- 
meeting day, we thought we would come over 
and get acquainted.** 

Then he noticed the gun in Mary*s hand. 

^^What is the matter? Did you take us for 
Indians ? ** he asked. 

‘‘We certainly did,** said Mary. 

At this all the boys laughed, joined by Mary 
and Patience, who now fully realized the agony 
of fear they had suffered by the happy sense of 
relief. 

“ I suppose we did make considerable noise,** 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 


61 


said young Taylor. Amasa here declared he 
could give the real Indian war-whoop; learned 
it in Deerfield. So we were all practising it in 
the woods as we came along.’’ 

Israel, hearing friendly voices, had hastened 
down from the loft, and now gave his new 
friends glad greeting. No more wool-carding 
that day for Israel. He took the boys outdoors, 
and was soon whooping as loudly and running 
as fast as any of the company, not seeming a 
bit languid or feeble. 

The women at the centre had gathered by 
the Severance fireside with their knitting work, 
while the husbands and brothers were transact- 
ing the town’s affairs in the log meeting-house. 

I wish,’^ said Mrs. Severance, as she entered 
with a steaming teapot in her hand, ^^that I 
could offer you all a nice cup of tea. But that 
will not answer now, among patriots. IVe 
brewed a pot of what my sister-in-law in Deer- 
field calls ^Liberty tea.’ It’s made from the 
dried leaves of the loosestrife. It ’s a poor apol- 
ogy for real tea, I fear. Still, I hope it is better 
than none.” 

The ladies tasted the Liberty tea and pro- 
nounced it fairly good. 

‘^I believe I prefer thoroughwort tea,” said 


62 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Mrs. Fellows. keep plenty of dried thor- 

oughwort on hand, and I always feel that a 
drink of that is good for the blood, especially in 
the spring of the year.” 

The men assembled in the meeting-house found 
plenty of time to discuss politics in the intervals 
of town business. 

They are having serious trouble at Provi- 
dence, I hear,” said Ebenezer Fisk. David 
Field was telling me about it at Deerfield last 
week. The British have stationed a ship, the 
‘ Gaspee,’ in Providence harbor, and its com- 
mander, Lieutenant Dudington, acts as if he 
owns the whole place. Complaint was made to 
the admiral of the fleet in Boston, but he up- 
holds Lieutenant Dudington, who now is worse 
than ever. He plunders the islands of sheep and 
hogs, cuts down the farmers’ trees without leave, 
and insults the townspeople. Of course our 
Governor Hutchinson sides with the admiral.” 

It is enough to make one^s blood boil,” said 
Lawrence Kemp, to hear that our people are 
so abused and tyrannized over without redress. 
The British had best be careful. The American 
people will not stand everything.” 

When Samuel Adams said, ‘ Independent we 
are, and independent we will be,’ he hit the nail 


TOWN MEETING DAY. 


63 


on the head/’ said Benjamin Nash. If King 
George and his ministers think they are dealing 
with a pack of cringing slaves, they will find 
themselves mistaken.” 

Have you a militia company in Shelburne ? ” 
asked Captain Wells. 

“ Not yet,” said John Wells. But it is 
high time we were thinking of forming one, 
and you. Cousin David, are of all others the 
man to organize and drill it.” 

The others warmly seconded this idea. 

Captain Wells replied : I will think about it. 
I am as yet but newly arrived in town and am 
not well started in my home work. But I fully 
agree with the rest of you that it is high time 
we began to organize and prepare for the worst 
if it comes. I stand ready to do my part.” 

When Mrs. Wells returned home that night, 
she did not find all the work accomplished that 
she had hoped. But after she had listened to a 
spirited account of the expected Indian attack, 
an account in which all the children took part, 
talking all together, even Walter saying, ^^Me 
run, me hide,” she said : 

It might have been worse. Finding the 
work behind is a small matter to what it would 
have been to come home and find our children 


64 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

killed or captured and our home burned. I 
often think we are not half thankful enough for 
what does not happen to us. I ’m glad, Israel, 
to have you know the town boys. But to-morrow 
you must work a little harder to make up for 
lost time. It ’s a true saying : 

‘ ‘ ‘ When the cat ’s away, 

The mice will play.’ 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE BOYS ARRIVE. 

T he spring was unusually late in coming this 
year. It was almost April before at last 
there dawned a day so bright, so warm and 
balmy, that every one said, This really seems 
like spring.” 

Soon Eunice came running into the house 
with the joyful tidings, I heard a robin, mother, 
I really did.” 

Are you sure ? ” 

“Yes, and I saw him, too, over in that big 
elm by the rock.” 

Plenty of rocks cropped out of the ground in 
Captain Wells’s home lot. But there was one, 
a little north of the house, which the children 
called “ the rock.” It seemed to have been made 
expressly for an outdoor playhouse for children. 
Its projecting, moss-clad sides formed what Eunice 
plainly saw was a staircase, leading to the “ par- 
lor,” where were a table and sofa moulded in 
rock, and where the roots of the great trees that 


66 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTT-SEYEN. 

contrived to grow on it wound about most ac- 
commodatingly into hollows filled with dead 
leaves, making luxurious arm-chairs. 

Eunice, at those rather rare intervals when 
she had time to play, liked nothing better, now 
the snow had gone, than to take her little broth- 
ers and play keep house ” on the rock. Some- 
times Israel could be induced to join them, but 
he was not altogether satisfactory, as he usually 
insisted on marching about with a stick over his 
shoulder for a gun, playing that Indians or wild 
beasts were prowling around, and it was his duty 
to fight them, with many loud bangs ! of his 
gun. 

‘^Boys are so queer,’’ often lamented Eunice, 
^^They always want to be making a noise. 
They never want to play quietly and make be- 
lieve, like girls.” 

While playing on the rock this lovely morning, 
Eunice had heard the first robin, and had run to 
the house to announce the great news. Every 
one went out the door to listen. Yes, from the 
elm came the glad refrain, Cheer up, cheer up,” 
seeming to brighten the whole world. 

Spring is here in earnest if the robins have 
come,” said Mrs. Wells. I never was more 
glad to hear them.” 


THE BOYS ARRIVE. 


67 


The grass is beginning to grow green down 
around the spring and in the wet hollow below/' 
said Patience. 

“ The boys will be here before long now/' ex- 
claimed Mary, and how glad we shall be to see 
them ! " 

It has n't seemed natural without our boys," 
admitted her mother. I believe I shall feel really 
settled and at home here when they come." 

Although the boys might be expected soon, 
yet there could be no certainty as to the time 
of their arrival. There were no post-offices. 
Letters were sent by obliging travellers, if, by 
good luck, some one happened to be travelling 
near the place whither one wished to write. In 
this way Captain Wells at rare intervals received 
letters from his Connecticut relatives, which were 
usually left at Deerfield, and found there on 
some trip to that village. 

One Saturday towards noon, the third week in 
April, Israel and his father were out cutting 
down trees in the forest southeast of the house, 
when Israel paused in his work, exclaiming : 

Father ! I hear cattle lowing down the road. 
The boys must be coming ! " 

Perhaps," said his father, looking, however, 
as pleased as Israel, while he too leaned on his 


68 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVJENTY-SEVEN. 

axe handle, listening to the sounds as they drew 
nearer. 

It does sound like it,” he said. 

The captain and Israel dropped their axes and 
strode through the stumps and underbrush over 
to the road. 

Presently down the hill to the south came 
first a drove of cattle plodding slowly along, 
and behind them two young men. One was on 
horseback; one was walking, carrying a long 
whip, the better to manage the cattle in difficult 
places and keep them in the right road. 

Halloo, David ! Halloo, Noah ! cried Israel, 
running down the road to greet his brothers. 

Halloo, Israel ! How are you, father ? Here 
we are at last, safe and sound, and every steer, 
ox, cow, and calf with us.” 

Captain Wells gave his two manly sons a 
hearty greeting. 

When did you start ? How long have you 
been on the way ? ” he asked. 

We left Colchester bright and early Tuesday 
morning/' said David, and we have been a little 
over four days on the way.” 

We made East Hartford the first night,” said 
Noah. That was our longest day’s journey. 
The cattle were fresh and could make better 


THE BOYS AERIVE. 


69 


time. The next day we kept along the east side 
of the river through Enfield, and reached Long- 
meadow Wednesday night. We decided to stop 
at Longmeadow tavern, rather than go on to 
Springfield, because we feared there might be 
no pasture for the cattle at Springfield.” 

You were quite right,” said the captain. 

There being no means of transportation for 
cattle, they must always be driven to market, or 
wherever bound. Accordingly the numerous 
country taverns along the main roads had pas- 
tures or fields near by, where the “drifts” of 
cattle (as such droves were called) could be kept 
over night. 

“ The next morning we drove the cattle 
through Springfield,” continued Noah, “and a 
hard time we had doing it, did n’t we, David ? ” 

“ Yes. There were so many side streets, 
teams to meet, dogs to bark at and chase the 
cattle, and noises to scare them. We both had 
to go on foot, shout ourselves hoarse, and run 
our legs ofi this way and that.” 

“ What did Major do while yuu were running 
about Springfield ? ” asked Israel. 

“Oh, he followed faithfully right along and 
took care of himself, like the wise old fellow he 
is,” said David, patting his horse’s neck. 


70 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

^‘Springfield is a big village; it has almost 
two thousand inhabitants now, they say/^ said 
his father. “ It must have been a task driving 
the cattle through there.’’ 

“ It was,” said Noah. “ Thursday we reached 
Hadley, where we lodged that night.- The next 
morning we crossed the river to Hatfield, and 
came on to Deerfield, where we stopped last night 
at David Saxton’s tavern.” 

“Right,” said his father. For Saxton’s tav- 
ern was one of the noted Whig headquarters in 
Deerfield. 

“This morning we toojc the Albany road, 
forded the Deerfield, and struck off up into the 
Shelburne hills, and here we are at last,” said 
Noah, looking around with interest at the strange 
place which was now to be his home. 

“ You ’re both pretty tired, I guess,” said 
their father. 

“Rather lame and leg weary,” confessed 
David. “We took turns riding. But between 
us we have footed a good many miles since we 
left Colchester. The cattle will be glad to take 
a rest, too, though they have stood it fairly 
well. We drove them carefully; just kept them 
moving quietly along.” 

“ You ’re pretty high up in the world, father,” 


THE BOYS ARRIVE. 


71 


said Noah, as he looked down into the smiling, 
fertile valley of the Connecticut below, spread- 
ing out for many miles north and south, a fair 
sight. 

Yes, we feel that the lines have fallen to us 
in pleasant places,’' said Captain Wells. Our 
prospects are flattering, if only the king and his 
ministers will hear to reason. If we are driven 
into war to flght for our just rights, hard times 
will be ahead for every one.” 

^^Do you really think, father, we shall have 
war with Great Britain ? ” asked David. 

The times are dark and troubled. Many 
things of late seem to point towards war.” 

^^Will you go if there is a war?” asked 
Israel. 

I shall try to do my duty, my son,” said the 
father. 

The drove of cattle, browsing and straggling 
along the road, had now come in sight of the 
house. Lucinda, down at the spring, flrst saw 
them, and ran up to the house, crying : 

Mother ! Mother ! Here come the boys ! ” 

Out of the house poured all the womenkind, 
and warm and joyful was the welcome the boys 
received. 

How Walter has grown ! ” said Noah, as he 


72 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

tossed his little brother high in the air, deftly 
catching him. And as for William, he ’s 
almost a man, are n’t yon, William ? Shelburne 
air seems to agree with every one. The girls 
are all as blooming as roses.” 

Noah was a great favorite with his sisters. 
David, the oldest of the large family, now 
twenty- two, was not so tall as Noah, and more 
sturdily built. He was a steady, reliable young 
man, of few words, his father’s staff and reli- 
ance. Noah was tall, slender, full of life and 
enthusiasm. Through his blue eyes flashed the 
gleams of a bright spirit. 

Now that he had his sons to help him. Cap- 
tain Wells pushed his farm work vigorously. 
The recently cleared fields were ploughed be- 
tween the stumps, and crops were planted. If 
there were an interval between planting, hoeing, 
and mowing, plenty of work was always at hand 
in the woods, in cutting down trees, hauling out 
or burning stumps and brush, trying constantly 
to clear more land for cultivation. 

The land, rich with the leaf mould of count- 
less ages, produced fine crops. Captain Wells 
was particularly proud of a crop of corn grow- 
ing on the slope of a hill northwest of his house, 
later known as the mountain pasture.” 


THE BOYS ARRIVE. 


73 


Never have I seen corn-stalks so tall as 
those/’ he said. And the ears are thick on 
the stalks, and growing large and long. A fine 
crop I shall have, far ahead of anything I ever 
raised in Colchester.” 

A few days later David came in one night, 
saying : 

Father, we struck across your corn-field 
to-night, coming home from the woods over 
on the mountain, and discovered that some- 
body or something is helping you gather your 
corn.” 

^^A big bear, I judge by the tracks,” said 
Noah. He has pulled and trodden down con- 
siderable on the north side and eaten a good 
many ears.” 

I ’ll go after him to-night,” said the captain. 

^^No, father, let us boys go. We want no 
better fun than a bear hunt, do we, David ? ” 

When the darkness fell that night, David and 
Noah took their guns and Larry, and went over 
to the corn-field. Larry seemed to scent excite- 
ment in the air, jumping and barking wildly 
about the boys. 

^^Be still, Larry. Down, sir. You must 
keep your mouth shut or you will spoil all our 
fun.” 


74 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

Larry seemed to understand and subsided, 
walking quietly behind the boys, but with alert 
eyes on every side. 

Don't let the bear catch you, Noah," called 
Lucinda after the boys. 

No, that isn't our plan," said Noah; ^^we 
mean to catch the bear." 

I feel almost afraid," said Eunice. I 
would n’t go down as far as our spring for any- 
thing, with bears about. I'm glad I am not 
you, Israel, sleeping out at the shop." 

^^Men and boys are not afraid," said Israel 
valiantly. 

Yet when the time came that he must go to 
bed, he said to Patience : 

Leave the back door open, will you. Patience ? 
It 's so dark I ran into a stump last night and 
bruised my shin like everything." 

The friendly light from the house door 
streamed out nearly to the shop, and com- 
forted Israel not a little as he raced across to 
his bed. 

When David and Noah reached the corn-field, 
they concealed themselves among the tall stalks 
on the northern side near the damaged section 
and patiently waited, Noah keeping Larry close 
to his feet. When their eyes had become wonted 


THE BOYS ARRIVE. 75 

to the darkness, they could see dimly in the 
bright starlight. 

By and by they heard steps approaching, the 
steps of some heavy creature. 

'Sh, Larry,’^ whispered Noah, keeping tight 
hold of Larry’s collar. His own heart beat fast 
with excitement. 

The boys now dimly descried a huge black 
body plunging into the corn-field. David fired, 
but, if he hit the bear he did not kill it, for it 
began a hasty retreat. 

Seek him, Larry ! ” cried Noah, letting Larry 
go. 

Away went Larry on the trail of the bear, 
and after him ran the boys. The bear had a de- 
cided advantage of them in being perfectly famil- 
iar with his ground and route. But they followed 
on as fast as they could in the dark, stumbling 
and sometimes falling over rocks and logs, guided 
by the sound of Larry’s yelps through the woods. 

David’s shot had wounded the bear, and at 
last, weakened by the loss of blood, on the border 
of a swamp he took refuge in a tree. Here the 
boys found him, with Larry leaping and yelping 
frantically below. 

It ’s hit or miss now, for we can’t see to 
aim,” said David. 


76 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Both boys blazed away into the treetop, twice. 
Then, with a heavy thump, down dropped the 
bear. 

That’s a dead bear,” said Noah, prodding 
the body with his gun-stock, while Larry sniffed 
eagerly around it. 

We will not try to take it home to-night,” 
said David. 

^^It will be something to write the Watrous 
boys that we Ve shot a bear,” said Noah. They 
don’t have bears at Colchester.” 

The boys returned home and went quietly to 
bed in the shop, so their good fortune was not 
known until morning. Captain Wells was de- 
lighted that the marauder in his corn-field was 
slain, and he and Israel went with the boys to 
help skin the bear and bring home the meat. 

This is a great stroke of luck for us,” said 
Mrs. Wells. “ I am told that bear meat is quite 
equal to fresh pork, tastes much like it, so now 
we shall have fresh meat in plenty. I must 
send a piece over to Cousin John’s.” 

^^And the skin will make a nice fur robe,” 
said Mary. 

“ Yes, your father will cure it, and next 
winter we shall be glad of it.” 


CHAPTER VII. 


A HUSKING-BEE. 

M ary and Patience found that the coining 
of the elder brothers lent variety to their 
lives. It was now possible to get out more. In 
late October there were several husking-bees. 
The young people of the town were invited to 
different farms for an evening, where the many 
hands made the proverbial light work/' and 
converted what would have been monotonous 
toil, if done alone, into a happy frolic. 

Mary and Patience, mounted on pillions behind 
David and Noah, rode fearlessly over the narrow 
bridle-paths through the dark woods more than 
one evening, to attend husking-bees at the farms 
of Messrs. Taylor, Fisk, Fellows, Nims, Kellogg, 
at Dr. Long’s, and other places. 

Father, why cannot we have a husking- 
bee ? ” asked Noah, after an especially pleasant 
time the previous evening at Captain Lawrence 
Kemp’s. 


78 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

wish we could/' said David. We've 
helped the others, and I know they will be 
glad to give us a lift in return." 

I am rather sceptical about the actual 
amount of work done at these husking-bees," 
said the captain. I know the young folks 
have a lively frolic and bussing bee, but how 
much corn they husk is another question." 

“ Try us and see," said Noah. 

The girls too pleaded for a husking-bee. 

As the children all have their hearts so set 
upon it, I think, father, you had best let them 
have the husking," said Mrs. Wells. 

Accordingly next Sunday invitations were 
given for a husking-bee at Captain David Wells's 
the following Thursday night. 

When the important evening came, Lucinda, 
Israel, and Eunice were even more excited than the 
older children. For they were as yet too young 
to be allowed to attend husking-bees abroad, but 
could not well be denied the pleasure of one in 
their own barn. Cheerfully they helped hang up 
lanterns to light the barn, and carry out chairs, 
gathering also tubs, pails, and piggins, which, 
turned over, would in an emergency serve as 
seats around the great pile of corn which the 
boys had carted in upon the barn floor. 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


79 


Captain Wells gazed complacently upon this 
goodly store of corn, proof of the fertility of 
his new farm. 

Do you youngsters expect to husk half that 
big pile to-night ? ’’ he asked. 

You wait and see, father,” said Noah. 

‘‘ I want to husk, too. I can husk corn,” 
said William. See me, father.” 

And the sturdy little fellow seized a big ear 
and began manfully pulling off the dry husk. 

His father smiled, but said : 

William, every dog has his day, and your 
day has n’t come yet. You will be in bed long 
before the husking begins.” 

Immediately after supper, although William’s 
eyes did not look at all drowsy, and although 
he said, I ’m not sleepy ; 1 don’t want to go 
to bed,” yet to bed he had to go, ignominiously, 
shut out from all the fun. 

I wish I were a big boy,” was his last 
thought as he fell asleep, in spite of his resolve 
to stay wide awake, to show his mother that he 
had been wrongfully sent to bed. 

The lanterns hanging from rafters and beams 
were lit early in the barn, — tin lanterns, in 
which burned candles, with the doors left open, 
to throw out all possible light. Soon laughing 


80 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

voices and the trampling of horses’ hoofs were 
heard through the evening stillness, and horse 
after horse trotted up to the Wellses’ door, each 
bearing a young couple full of zeal for the husk- 
ing. There were reinforcements from Greenfield 
also, as young John Wells came up to help, 
bringing with him his friend, Moses Arms. 

The barn was a scene for a painter, with the 
bright young faces, the busy hands merrily 
stripping the husks from the golden ears of 
corn, the lantern light streaming out in bright 
rays through the dusty interior, the dark corners 
in the background where peered forth the faces 
of cows and horses, blinking in surprise at this 
invasion of their usual quiet darkness. 

Captain and Mrs. Wells came out, bringing 
pewter platters heaped high with toothsome 
doughnuts and cookies, also jugs of cider, with 
pewter mugs and flip glasses to pass around the 
merry circle. 

By and by John Wells found a red ear, and 
thereupon insisted on kissing his blushing Cousin 
Mary, who sat next to him. Soon Moses Arms, 
who sat not far from John, also found a red ear, 
and proceeded to kiss his next neighbor. Patience. 
But when, presently, the youth sitting next 
Moses also found a red ear, the girls cried : 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


81 


You’re cheating. You are passing that red 
ear along ! It is n’t fair.” 

The boys laughed and did not deny the 
charge. 

Young folks will be young folks, you know,” 
said Mrs. Wells to her husband. 

Yes, I know ; I Ve been there myself,” was 
the indulgent reply. 

It was amazing how rapidly the pile of un- 
husked corn diminished under the swift work 
of the strong young hands. Before Captain 
Wells could credit his own eyes, the corn was 
actually all husked. 

‘^Well, father, what do you think now?” 
asked David. 

^^I wouldn’t have believed it possible,” said 
the captain. 

Here Noah approached, his eyes shining with 
eagerness. 

‘^Father,” he said, ^Hhey want to dance a 
little. Dan Nims has brought his fiddle. It’s 
early yet, and we have worked smartly.” 

Captain Wells was known to be a man of 
strict ideas, a deacon in the church, first in 
Colchester and now in Shelburne. But he was 
indulgent to his children. 

When his wife said, ^^I don’t see any harm 
6 


82 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN* 

in letting the young folks dance, David/’ he re- 
plied: ^‘Well, Noah, you can dance; but don’t 
keep it up too late.” 

The barn floor was speedily cleared. Dan 
Nims began to scrape and tune up his fiddle, 
an exciting sound, and the young couples 
formed in two long lines for Money Musk,” 

“I want to dance, Israel,” said Eunice, her 
eyes shining with excitement. Come on, let 
us dance together.” 

You don’t know how, nor I either. We 
shall make fools of ourselves,” said Israel, as 
anxious as Eunice to dance, but bashful about 
trying. 

We can take a place in the middle and 
watch the others, and do as they do. We shall 
never learn if we don’t begin sometime. Come 
on, Israel.” 

Israel allowed himself to be dragged out upon 
the floor by his energetic little sister, and the 
two children found a place each side in the long 
lines of dancers, while Lucinda was happy in a 
partner of her own age, Asa Nims. 

Away went the fiddle, merrily squeaking out 

Money Musk,” and away went the dancers, 
twining in and out the mazes of the dance, 
those whose turn to whirl and twirl had not yet 



“ Away went the hddle, squeaking out ‘Money Musk.’ ” 
Page 82 . 




A HUSKING-BEE. 83 

come impatiently tapping the barn floor with 
their feet in time to the music. 

It was noticeable that Captain Wells’s feet 
also kept time to the fiddle’s notes. He was 
fond of music, and had been a famous dancer 
in his youth. 

^^It makes me think of the old times in 
Colchester when we were young,” said Mrs. 
Wells. believe I could dance just as well 
now as I ever did.” 

Come on and try it, wife,” said the captain, 
offering his hand. 

Loud were the acclamations of the young 
people when the captain and his wife took their 
places in the ranks, and great was the delight 
of their children. Mrs. Wells, a trifle stately, 
proved to be a graceful dancer, while the cap- 
tain took all the steps like a master, and bowed 
to the ladies as he took their hands with an old- 
school courtesy beautiful to witness. 

Eunice, who was full of music, watched the 
older dancers, and when her turn came, pranced 
with energy through the figure, keeping exact 
time to the fiddle’s joyous notes, and dragging 
Israel along with her, both perfectly happy. 

“ Your little sister does well for a beginner,” 
said Dorothy Kemp to Mary. 


84 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Eunice always does anything she sets out 
to do/' said Mary. 

Later on Chorus Jig,” ^^Lady Walpole’s 
Reel,” and other favorite contra dances were 
danced, and at last, when every one was well 
warmed to the work, Dan struck up Fisher’s 
Hornpipe,” and several of the youths won loud 
applause as they executed all the flourishes of 
the hornpipe with some high leaping. 

hope your barn floor has a strong under- 
pinning, David,” said Dan. 

It will last through to-night, I guess,” said 
David, from the corner where he stood with 
Phoebe Hubbard, for whom he had ridden over 
to the minister’s to bring her to the husking. 

At last the moon, rising above the tree-tops, 
streamed in at the open barn door. 

‘‘ The moon ’s up,” said Solomon Kemp. 
^^It’s midnight or after; time we broke up.” 

All were forced to admit that Solomon was 
right. The horses were brought around, and the 
young couples mounted, setting off homeward 
with many jokes and much laughter. 

Don’t let the wolves catch you, David,” 
shouted Noah after his brother, as David rode off 
to carry Phoebe Hubbard home. 

I have my gun handy,” said David. 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


85 . 


The candles, now burning low in the lanterns, 
were blown out, the barn and cattle were left to 
their usual darkness and quiet, and the Wells 
family went to bed, Eunice and Israel counting 
the months to next year’s husking, and Lucinda 
the years until she should be a young lady. 
John Wells and Moses Arms spent the night, 
there always being room for a few more at the 
shop. 

November had come, and preparations on the 
farm for the long siege of a New England winter 
were nearly completed. Corn, rye, barley, flax, 
wool, vegetables, hay, oats, provisions of all sorts 
were stowed away in cellar, loft, shop, and barn. 
A mountainous pile of wood, nearly as large as 
the log house, was stacked in the wood-yard, to 
fight the winter’s cold. 

‘^It is a sharp morning,” said the captain, 
as he came in from the barn, his fur cap pulled 
well down over his ears. We shall have snow 
before long. To-morrow I shall send the boys 
down to Cousin Agrippa’s shop in Greenfield with 
the horses, to be sharp shod for winter.” 

Mary and Patience can ride down with them, 
to visit their cousins and buy some things I need 
at the store. I need thread, needles, beads for 


86 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

the bead bags the girls plan to embroider this 
winter, and some spice/' said Mrs. Wells. 

‘^The boys must get some shoemaker’s wax 
and thread too, and some pipes,” said the captain, 
as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe. 

The next day the young people rode down to 
Greenfield. It was a sharp, clear morning. 

As the girls were good horsewomen, each 
was mounted on a steed of her own, for it was 
necessary to take all the horses down to the 
blacksmith’s. They were full of pleasure in the 
prospect of the day’s outing and the visit at 
Colonel Samuel Wells’s, where John had urgently 
invited them. All admired the view as they rode 
along. 

^‘The view is almost prettier now than in 
summer,” said Patience. The trees being bare, 
we can see much farther. And the air is so 
clear, and all the mountains look so blue ! ” 

How plainly we can see Greenfield ! ” said 
Mary. 

It looks almost as if we could step right off 
into it,” said Noah. But we have to ride round 
about, half-way to Deerfield, to get there.” 

Some day we will have a road of our own 
to Greenfield, right down the mountain through 
the woods,” said David. 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


87 


In due time the Wellses reached the village, 
then hardly more than twenty houses scattered 
the length of the one long street, with farm 
lands between, but seeming quite a metropolis 
to the girls, coming from their isolated mountain 
farm. 

They went first to the blacksmith shop of 
Captain Agrippa Wells, receiving hearty wel- 
come from the bluff old captain. The boys 
stopped at the blacksmith shop, while the girls 
crossed over to Kuel Willard’s store to make 
their purchases before going down to Colonel 
Wells’s. 

Any news. Cousin ’Grip ? ” asked David, as 
the captain hammered away on the horses’ feet. 

Plenty of it, plenty,” said Captain ’Grip. 

Matters are coming to a head fast down in 
Boston. You know all the excitement l^st 
August caused by the king’s making provision 
to take the judges of our province into his own 
pay, thus making them his hirelings ?” 

Yes, father has talked about that a great deal. 
He thinks that a direct blow at our liberties.” 

Every one does. Well, it seems that the 
last of October the Boston folk had a town 
meeting in Faneuil Hall and appointed a com- 
mittee to ask Governor Hutchinson if the judges 


88 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

of this province had become stipendaries of the 
crown, and then adjourned two days to await 
his answer. The governor refused to answer 
the inquiry of the town, and sent a message 
which meant, in plain English, that it was 
none of the town’s business to discuss public 
questions.” 

^^That is flat tyranny,” said David. 

You are right,” said the captain. After 
the meeting had read this message, they voted 
unanimously that the people of Boston have, 
ever had, and ought to have, a right to petition 
the king or his representatives to redress or 
prevent grievances.” 

Good ! ” exclaimed David. 

Governor Hutchinson will find he can’t 
trample on Boston people,” said Noah. 

Not while they have Sam Adams for a 
leader,” said the captain, stopping work and 
standing erect in his earnestness. Adams im- 
mediately made a motion that a committee of 
correspondence be appointed to state the rights 
of the colonists, and to communicate the same 
to the towns of this province and to the world, 
with all the infringements that have been made 
on those rights, asking each town to vote on the 
subject.” 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


89 


That is taking action in earnest/’ said Noah. 

They have put fine men on that committee 
of correspondence : Samuel Adams, James Otis, 
Joseph Warren, and the like. I ’m waiting 
anxiously to hear their statement.” 

^‘Father will be greatly interested in this,” 
said David. 

I want to send him out the Boston ‘ Gazette ’ 
of October 28, which has a spirited article on 
this subject,” said the captain. ^^He need not 
return it. Pass it on in Shelburne and let the 
folks up there know how Boston feels about the 
actions of the king and Governor Hutchinson. 
I feel sure that Greenfield, Shelburne, and most 
of our towns will stand by the Boston patriots, 
whatever action they take ; but I don’t feel so 
certain of Deerfield.” 

Deerfield ? ” asked David in surprise. 

No. The town is full of Tories, from Par- 
son Ashley down. Still, I guess there are enough 
Whigs to carry the day, if it comes to the 
worst.” 

The girls had a delightful visit at Colonel 
Wells’s, and all the young people rode up the 
mountain in fine spirits, after having had so 
pleasant a change and seeing something, as 
they felt, of the outside world. 


90 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Captain Wells that evening eagerly read the 
Boston Gazette.’’ 

Listen to this/’ he said presently, reading 
with emphasis : 

“‘We must now strike a home blow, or sit down 
under the yoke of tyranny. The people in every 
town must instruct their representatives to send a 
remonstrance to the King of Great Britain, and assure 
him (unless their Liberties are immediately restored 
whole and entire) they will form an independent 
Commonwealth, after the example of the Dutch Prov- 
inces; and offer a free trade to all nations. Should 
any one Province begin the example, the other Prov- 
inces will follow ; and Great Britain must comply 
with our demands, or sink under the united force of 
the French and Spaniards.’ ” 

^^That article is signed ^American,’ but I 
would not be afraid to wager that the pen of 
Samuel Adams wrote it,” said Captain Wells, 

It sounds like him.” 

I hope all this trouble will not lead to war 
with Great Britain,” said Mrs. Wells anxiously. 

If the king and Lord North will yield, and 
restore our rights, that will end the trouble. If 
not, there is no recourse but war,” said the 
captain. 

If there is a war, I shall enlist,” said Noah. 


A HUSKING-BEE. 


91 


So shall 1 ” said David. 

Don’t let me hear you talk about enlisting, 
boys,” said Mrs. Wells. You had best forget 
about war and go to bed, for we must all be up 
betimes to-morrow.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


WINTER. 

O NE gloomy, cloudy day the last of J anuary, 
Captain Wells came in from the barn, say- 
ing, as he stamped off the snow : 

A big snowstorm is coming. There ’s a chill 
in the air that seems to curdle the very life-blood. 
The backbone of winter is not broken yet, by a 
good deal.” 

We ought to be thankful that we have a 
good roof over our heads, plenty of wood and 
provisions, and that we have all kept well so 
far,” said his wife. 

“We have more mercies than we deserve, I 
fear,” said the captain. 

That evening, while the wind roared around 
the little house, and snowflakes blew down the 
chimney, spattering into the fire, the captain 
read a Boston paper which David had brought 
up from Deerfield. 

“ Major Salah Barnard sent it to you, father,” 
said David. “He said he hoped we of Shel- 
burne would act promptly. The Deerfield 


WINTER. 93 

Whigs are talking of appointing a committee 
of correspondence.” 

I hope, David, whatever happens,” said his 
wife, that you will not be put on any more 
committees. You have more than you can do 
now.” 

For the captain had been elected one of the 
school committee, and also put on the com- 
mittee to build the new meeting-house, to be 
erected on the hill at the centre, in place of the 
log meeting-house. 

We must all do our part to help the world 
along, mother,” said the captain. He added, as 
he scanned the paper : 

^^All the towns in the province are rallying, 
I see, in answer to the appeal of the Boston 
committee. They all declare in substance, like 
Ipswich, ‘ The Inhabitants of this Province should 
support and stand firm as one man to maintain 
all their just rights and privileges.’ ” 

Major Barnard said the news that King 
George has ordered the Providence men who 
took part in burning the ^ Gaspee ’ to be sent to 
England for trial has stirred up everybody,” said 
David. Mr. David Field came into the barroom 
while we were talking. He said sending an 
American citizen across the Atlantic for the trial 


94 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

of his life was a violation of our rights that no 
American ought to endure tamely.” 

It ’s an intolerable injustice,” said Captain 
Wells, with a flash of his eyes. 

Mr. Field says the Deerfield Tories think it is 
all right, and they uphold Governor Hutchinson 
in advising that Khode Island’s charter be taken 
away,” added David. 

I see by this paper that Samuel Adams says 
^an attack upon the liberties of one colony is 
an attack upon the liberties of all,’ and that we 
should all stand by each other,” said the captain. 

I think the colonies will have to effect some kind 
of a union, that we may stand by and help each 
other. ‘ Union is strength.’ ” 

When the boys went out to the shop to bed, 
Mary noticed that Israel was taking off his shoes 
and stockings before starting. 

Do look at Israel, mother,” she said. 

Israel, what are you doing ? ” asked his 
mother. 

I ’m going to leave my shoes and stockings 
here before the fire, so they will be warm to put 
on in the morning.” 

But you will freeze your feet.” 

No, ma’am. It makes them warm as toast 
after I run through the snow, when I jump into 


WINTER. 


95 


bed in the woollen sheets. I 've tried it before. 
And I like warm shoes to put on these cold 
mornings.'’ 

Israel was allowed to try his own patent for 
warm feet, although not without some jibes and 
jeers from the other children. 

The next morning the snow was still falling 
steadily, although it already lay deep on the 
ground. The men ploughed through it to the 
barn to feed the hungry stock. Though it was 
stormy, all had plenty of work. 

Noah and Israel threshed corn on the barn 
floor, the whack of their flails echoing cheerfully 
through the storm. Captain Wells and David 
were at the shop, the captain at his shoe bench, 
repairing shoes for some of his numerous family, 
and David making an ox-bow, being much 
helped, as he thought, by William, whom David 
had bundled up and brought out on his back. 
Indoors, the women were busy with their cook- 
ing, weaving, spinning, etc. 

As the day went on, the storm increased. The 
wind rose, moaning around the house and howl- 
ing down the chimney as it drove the snowflakes 
before it in white sheets. The boys hauled in 
on sleds great logs for the fire, which blazed high, 
the one bright spot in all the waste around. 


96 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

The storm ceased in the night. The next 
morning, the log house was almost buried. 
Snowdrifts blocked the doors and nearly covered 
the windows. 

There ’s plenty of work laid out for every 
one to-day,'^ said the captain, as he and the boys 
began digging paths. 

It ’s a white world,’’ said Patience, standing 
in the open door, looking off over the dazzling 
expanse of pure snow covering the fields, the 
valley below, and the mountains beyond. 

“ Who would think there were flowers and 
grass underneath, waiting to make this a green 
world ? ” said Eunice. 

Here the girls heard a shouting in the 
distance. 

There come the road-breakers,” said Mary. 

Soon yokes of oxen appeared, tugging through 
the drifts, drawing rude sleds laden with men 
and boys armed with shovels, to dig out the 
worst drifts. The oxen were half buried in the 
snow, their breath puffing out in white steam 
which frosted their nostrils. 

Captain Wells and family were glad to see 
their neighbors, after being shut in so long, as 
well as pleased to have their road broken out. 
The captain invited the company in, to rest and 


WINTER. 


97 


warm themselves. The girls brought up cider, 
and the captain brewed a huge mug of hot flip 
which passed from one to another around the 
circle. 

As the flip circulated, the men, as at all gath- 
erings in these exciting times, began to talk 
politics. 

Shelburne will have to appoint a committee 
of correspondence soon,’^ said Ebenezer Fisk. 

I see eighty towns in the province have already 
done it.” 

New Salem and Coleraine have appointed 
a committee,” said Lawrence Kemp. We 
mustn’t lag behind them. But Governor Hut- 
chinson says that this scheme of keeping up a 
correspondence throughout the province is so 
foolish that it will only make us ridiculous.” 

If Governor Hutchinson ridicules it, that is 
enough to recommend it to all true patriots,” 
said Captain Wells. “We will appoint our 
committee at our next town meeting.” 

“This plan of having a committee of corre- 
spondence may spread to the other colonies,” 
said Samuel Fellows, “and so lead to a union 
between us.” 

“ That is what is most needed,” said Captain 
Wells, and the others agreed. 

7 


98 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

While the elder men were thus discussing 
the affairs of the nation, the youths were talk- 
ing and joking with the girls. At last the 
road-breakers, refreshed and warmed, set forth 
again, reinforced by David and Noah, who 
cheerfully took their ox-sled and went to help 
break out the road to the meeting-house, and 
to Dr. Long’s. 

The girls all stood in the doorway watching 
the teams start. This lively invasion of their 
solitude had indeed been a welcome diversion. 

Look out, Mary ! ” suddenly cried Patience. 
The young men were firing a parting salute of 
well-aimed snowballs at the group of girls who, 
rosy and smiling, hastened to retaliate. They 
sent back snowballs in return, and then rushed, 
breathless and laughing, into the house, and 
slammed the door. 

^^My ball hit Daniel Nims,” said Eunice. 

And mine nearly knocked off Solomon 
Kemp’s cap,” said Patience. 

We ’ll teach the saucy fellows to snowball 
us,” said Mary, as, flushed and animated, she 
returned to her spinning. 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 

E choes of the contest which the Boston 
patriots continued to wage with the king 
and governor did not fail to reach all the little 
towns of Western Massachusetts, through the 
system of correspondence so wisely planned by 
Samuel Adams. They were kept advised of 
every step. Captain Wells was much excited 
one day when he returned from Deerfield, where 
he had been to transact some law business before 
’Squire John Williams. 

Deerfield is a regular Tory hotbed,'’ he said. 
Of course I did not discuss the state of the 
country with ’Squire Williams. I know where 
he stands, and he knows where I stand. No use 
to waste breath. But I happened to meet John 
Sheldon, who told me that the governor is send- 
ing out Tory emissaries all over the province to 
further his ends, and that three of these Tories 
came to Deerfield April third. The Deerfield 
Tories met them at Seth Catlin’s tavern, and 


100 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

they kept it up there till two o’clock the next 
morning. Sheldon says they no doubt consumed 
considerable flip drinking his Majesty’s health, 
if they did nothing else.” 

Shelburne now had its committee of corre- 
spondence, and the town had taken action on the 
famous letters of Governor Hutchinson which 
Franklin had discovered in England and sent 
home, copies having been sent to all the towns 
through the committee of correspondence. This 
committee was found to furnish the best possible 
means for keeping the patriots of the province 
in touch with each other. 

As has been said, there were no post-offices.^ 
When Benjamin Franklin was turned out of the 
office of Postmaster General of America because 
he was a Whig, the service, poor at best, wholly 
broke down. Captain Wells was therefore very 
glad to cooperate in a plan arranged by the lead- 
ing men of Deerfield to get the mail regularly. 
Twenty or more of the Deerfield men, with 
Aaron Rice and Othniel Taylor of Charlemont, 
Moses Bascon of Greenfield, and Captain David 
Wells of Shelburne, agreed to each pay William 
Mosman twelve shillings a year for riding post 
to Boston. He brought letters, papers, and 

^ Appendix B. 


THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 101 

small packages once a week, as the trip down 
and back consumed about a week. The out-of- 
town subscribers, knowing when the post-rider 
might be expected, usually planned to ride down 
to David Hoyt’s tavern to meet him. 

The third week in December Captain Wells 
sent David to Deerfield to meet the post-rider. 
Israel begged so hard to be allowed also to ride 
down that the captain finally consented. 

When the two boys rode out of the Albany 
road upon the common in front of ’Squire Wil- 
liams’s store, they found a crowd collected before 
David Hoyt’s tavern,^ which the post-rider made 
his headquarters. Some were eagerly tearing 
open the papers which Mosman was handing out 
of his pouch; but more were gathered around 
David Field. Mr. Field was chairman of the 
Deerfield committee of correspondence, and had 
been to Boston to confer with the Whig leaders, 
riding home with the post-rider. 

wonder what has happened,” said Israel. 

Something out of the ordinary. Every one 
seems so excited,”, said David. 

The boys tied their horses and hastened to 
join the crowd around Mr. Field. 

‘^What is it, Mr. Hoyt?” asked David of 
1 The Old Indian House. 


102 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

Lieutenant Jonathan Hoyt, who stood near him 
in the crowd. 

Field brings word that the Boston Whigs 
have been engaged in most seditious acts/’ an- 
swered Hoyt, with an angry look. The town 
will suffer for it when the king hears of their 
doings.” 

David well knew Hoyt to be a strong Tory. 
He pressed farther into the crowd, nearer Mr. 
Field, who was repeating his story most willingly 
to the fresh throng of listeners gathering around. 

You all know,” said Mr. Field, how deter- 
mined the king and Lord North have been to 
force us to pay a tax on tea. They care not so 
much for the money as for the principle. They 
well know that if they can force us to pay the 
smallest fraction of a penny on tea, we shall 
lose the great principle for which we stand, — 
no taxation without representation.” 

Yes, yes ; we know. Go on.” 

As you know, three ship-loads of tea have 
been sent to Boston, but the Boston committee 
would not allow them to be landed, and they 
have remained unloaded at Griffin’s Wharf. 
Hutchinson tried to fix matters so that the 
committee would be compelled to let the tea be 
landed. He refused to give the ships a pass to 


THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 


103 


leave until that was done. At the same time 
he ordered the ships guarding the harbor and 
the soldiers at the Castle to fire on any ship 
attempting to go out without a pass. 

^^The night of December sixteenth a rousing 
meeting was held in the Old South Church, seven 
thousand men from Boston and all the towns 
around gathering there. Captain Rotch of the 
ship ^ Dartmouth ’ had been sent out to Governor 
Hutchinson’s in Milton, to ask for a pass. Mean- 
time Adams and Young made speeches, asking 
if the people were resolved to abide by their 
resolutions forbidding the tea to be landed. The 
whole great assembly vowed unanimously that 
the tea should not be landed.” 

Good ! hurrah ! ” shouted some of the Deer- 
field Whigs, while the dark faces of the Tories 
showed how little they sympathized with Field’s 
stor}^ 

‘^It was candle-light before Captain Rotch 
returned,” continued Field. The governor had 
refused him a pass because the cargo was not 
landed. At this Samuel Adams rose, and said 
with solemn emphasis : ^ This meeting can do 
nothing more to save the country ! ’ 

I suppose that was an understood signal, 
for at once a shout arose on the porch, the 


104 BOYS AND GIELS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

war-whoop was heard, and a party of forty or 
more men disguised as Indians appeared, and 
set off for Griffin’s Wharf. The rest of us 
followed on to see what was done. 

Setting a guard to prevent interruption or 
spies, the Indians went aboard the ships, and in 
three hours’ time they burst open and emptied 
into the harbor three hundred and forty chests 
of tea ! ” 

^‘Hurrah! Three cheers for the Boston 
Whigs ! ” shouted the Whigs, while the Tories 
looked blacker than ever. 

Although there was an immense crowd 
gathered, looking on, everything was so still you 
could plainly hear the crashing of chest after 
chest as it was burst open and the tea thrown 
into the sea. But all was done decently and in 
order.” 

Order ! ” exclaimed Jonathan Ashley, sneer- 
ingly. A fine sample of decency and order 
such mob violence ! ” 

^^So you seethe Whigs brewed a big dish of 
tea in Boston harbor that night,” said Field in 
conclusion. 

‘^You’ll find that your jaunty Boston Whig 
friends have brewed the bitterest cup ever 
pressed to the lips of this country, — a cup 


THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 


105 


mingled with blood/’ said Nathaniel Dickinson, 
as he, Jonathan Ashley, and the other Tories 
present turned and went into David Hoyt’s 
tavern, which was one of the Tory head- 
quarters in Deerfield. 

David Field, Joseph Stebbins, and others of 
the leading Whigs crossed the common to David 
Saxton’s tavern. Their excited and happy con- 
ference over the action at Boston lasted late 
into the night. 

David and Israel could hardly wait for their 
mail, they were so anxious to reach home and 
tell their father news which was sure greatly to 
interest him. 

I ’m glad I came down to Deerfield this after- 
noon,” said Israel. I wouldn’t have missed 
hearing Mr. Field’s story for anything.” 

Why, here’s Cousin Agrippa ! ” exclaimed 
David at that moment. 

Captain Agrippa Wells came up where the 
boys were untying their horses. 

Boys,” he said, I ’m glad I happened to 
see you. I rode over this afternoon hoping 
David Field might have returned, being anxious 
to get the latest news from Boston. And I ’ve 
got it ! This news will set the whole country 
ablaze from Maine to South Carolina. Tell 


106 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

your father, boys, that I am going to organize 
a militia company right away. I know he has 
talked of doing the same in Shelburne. Tell 
him I think now is the time. We must be 
drilling and getting ready. There ’s fighting 
not far ahead, unless I ’m vastly mistaken.’’ 

The boys hurried their horses on the home- 
ward ride all that the steep hills and the gather- 
ing darkness permitted. 

The family were at supper when they entered. 

News, father, great news,” cried Israel. 

The Boston Whigs have had a big tea- 
party,” said David. 

The captain frowned. 

The Boston Whigs using tea ! ” he exclaimed. 
^^What do you mean? I hope they have not 
abandoned their principles.” 

But when the captain heard what kind of 
tea-party the Boston Whigs had held, his in- 
terest and delight knew no bounds. 

Cousin Agrippa is right,” he said. No 
backward step is possible after this. Unless 
the king yields, which is not probable, — for 
this affair of the tea will enrage him more than 
ever, — fighting is not far ahead.” 

David, what if war comes and the king 
wins ? ” asked his wife. This country is young 


THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 107 

and poor, with no army. England is rich and 
powerful, with great, well-trained armies.” 

The Lord will be on our side because it is 
the right, Mary,” said the captain, ^^and that 
is a mightier reinforcement than all the chariots 
and horsemen of Israel. ^ They that be for us 
are more than they that be with him.’ I shall 
take Cousin Agrippa’s advice and begin to or- 
ganize and drill a militia company here as soon 
as spring opens.” 

^^We may have no armies, as mother says,” 
said David, but we Americans know how to 
handle guns. We can aim straight and shoot 
straight.” 

And hit the mark every time,” said Noah. 

Yes,” said their father, the British will find 
that a century’s experience in fighting French 
and Indians has not been wasted on us.” 

At family prayers that night the captain read 
with fervor the sixth chapter of Second Kings, 
and the One Hundredth and Twenty-fourth and 
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Psalms. 


CHAPTER X. 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 

ITH the opening of spring Captain Wells 



1 T kept his word. The young men of 
the town were quite ready to form a militia 
company. 

If we are going to fight, we had best learn 
how/’ said Daniel Nims, and nobody in Shel- 
burne can drill us better than Captain David 
Wells. He was an officer in the Connecticut 
militia for seventeen years before moving to 
Shelburne.” 

David and Noah both enlisted in the com- 
pany, much more to their own satisfaction than 
to their mother’s. 

But I still hope,” she said to her daughters, 
^Hhat the trouble will somehow be averted. I 
cannot believe that we shall really have a war 
with the mother country.” 

“Don’t say ^mother country,”’ said Mary. 
“ ^ Stepmother country ’ would be a truer title 
for Great Britain.” 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 


109 


Now I must object/' said Mrs. Wells. I 
never like to hear the term ^ stepmother ' used 
as expressing unkindness or neglect, for I have 
known some stepmothers who were the kindest 
friends orphaned children ever knew." 

^^Well, whatever we call her, Great Britain 
has certainly shown herself anything but a 
friend to her colonies," said Mary. 

There is a division of opinion, I find, among 
our best men," said Mrs. Wells. ‘‘ I had quite a 
long talk the last time I was in Deerfield with 
Parson Ashley. He thinks the trouble will be 
peaceably settled. He feels the recent action 
of our province little short of seditious, dis- 
loyal to the lawful authority of the king and 
Parliament." 

Parson Ashley is a Tory of the deepest dye," 
said Patience. I should n't pay the least at- 
tention to anything he says." 

Young people should always respect the 
clergy and those in authority," said Mrs. Wells 
reprovingly. 

The first training of the Shelburne militia 
company was to be held on the Wellses' home 
lot, which had been cleared long enough to be 
free from stumps, and included several acres 
lying east and south of the house. 


110 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

It was an exciting morning on the farm when 
the young soldiers began to arrive. None wore 
uniforms. They came from their farm work in 
homespun woollen frocks. But every one carried 
a gun, and knew how to handle it. The officers, 
Captain Wells and Lieutenant Benjamin Nash, 
had already secured their commissions from His 
Majesty, King George. 

The company of stalwart youths was formed 
on the pleasant stretch of land overlooking 
Greenfield and the Connecticut Valley, and there 
Captain Wells drilled them all the morning. 
Of course the younger members of the Wells 
family took the liveliest interest in the proceed- 
ings. Perched on the rock, they watched all 
the manoeuvres and exercises, the marching and 
countermarching, as Captain Wells’s voice rang 
out : 

“ Shoulder arms ! Bight about ! Face ! 
March! Halt! 

Eli Skinner, who played the fife, struck up a 
lively tune, the martial tap of the drum echoed 
far and wide over the hills, and the boys 
marched back and forth in fine style. 

“ That music stirs me so I can hardly keep 
still,” said Mary. It almost makes me wish I 
were a young man.” 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 


Ill 


I wish I were grown up, so I could enlist/’ 
said Israel. 

William, a long stick held at his shoulder, 
was marching up and down in time to the music, 
closely imitated by little Walter, whose one aim 
in life was to do whatever William did. 

When Captain Wells’s voice rang out sharply. 

Fire ! ” the volley which seemed to shake the 
hills around made the girls stop their ears and 
even the valiant Israel and William jump. In 
the house, Mrs. Wells, who was preparing din- 
ner, also started, then exclaimed with a sigh : 

What a terrible thing war is ! I pray God 
to avert it from us.” 

After this, the little boys’ favorite play was 

being soldier,” a game on which Captain Wells 
looked with indulgent fondness, saying: 

There’s good stuff there, if they are my 
boys. They will be able to ^ speak with the 
enemy in the gate ’ one of these days.” 

‘‘ It will be a hard time for the enemy when 
William and Walter get on their track,” said 
Noah, laughing as he watched the little boys 
marching. 

Captain Agrippa Wells, who had organized a 
militia company in Greenfield, rode out to Shel- 
burne in May, and invited the Shelburne com- 


112 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

pany to come down to Greenfield and drill with 
his company. 

It will be good practice for the boys to learn 
to drill in a larger body/' he said. And it will 
do no hurt for us, David, to practise manoeu- 
vring larger bodies.” 

An excellent plan/’ said Captain David. 

The Shelburne men were up in the early dawn 
of that May day, and by six o’clock they were 
marching down the hills to Greenfield. 

The drill was to be on the farm of Colonel 
Samuel Wells, at the western end of Greenfield’s 
long street. Here, east of Colonel Wells’s house, 
was a large open lot of several acres, on the 
brow of the hill overlooking Green River, the 
view extending across the Deerfield meadows to 
Mt. Pocumtuck. 

The Shelburne company naturally attracted 
much attention as it marched down the village 
street. The young men kept step to the music 
and marched proudly along, escorted by every 
boy in town hanging along the sides and rear of 
the company, also marching in time to the fife 
and drum. 

At Colonel Wells’s, Captain David found the 
colonel and his cousin Agrippa in earnest and 
excited conference. 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 


113 


Cousin David/ ^ said Agrippa, ^^Mosman 
brought bad news from Boston last night. 
King George and Parliament, in revenge for the 
tea-party, have passed a bill closing the port of 
Boston, forbidding all lading or unlading of 
goods there after J une first. The custom-house 
is to be transferred to Salem.” 

Outrageous ! ” exclaimed Captain Wells. 

^^And they have altered our charter,” con- 
tinued Captain Agrippa, decreeing that all 
judges and magistrates shall be appointed by the 
crown, holding office only during the royal 
pleasure. And they’ve abolished town meet- 
ings, except for the choice of officers, or on 
special permission of the governor.” 

‘^Do they expect Massachusetts men will submit 
tamely to such tyranny?” asked Captain Wells, 
while all standing around echoed his sentiments. 

Worse is yet to come,” said Captain Agrippa. 
^^An officer indicted for murder in this prov- 
ince must be sent for trial either to Great 
Britain or Nova Scotia. The aim of this meas- 
ure is plain. General Gage is now on his way 
to take Governor Hutchinson’s place, with 
troops to domineer over Boston and suppress 
the patriots. This law gives Gage power to 
murder Boston folks with practical impunity.” 


114 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

‘^Has Boston taken any action?” asked 
Captain David. 

Joseph Warren, for the committee of corre- 
spondence, has invited eight of the neighboring 
towns to a conference to be held in Faneuil Hall 
on the twelfth. Gage had not yet arrived, but 
was expected daily. That was the latest news 
when Mosman left Boston.” 

Closing the port will throw hundreds of 
innocent people in Boston into poverty and 
suffering,” said Colonel Wells. 

This action is sure to rouse the other col- 
onies,” said Captain David, ^^and so good may 
come out of evil.” 

“We must get to our drilling,” said Captain 
Agrippa. “We have cause now to put heart 
into our work as never before.” 

All shared the captain’s feeling. The hearts 
of the young fellows in the homespun frocks 
burned within them as they thought of their 
province's wrongs, and they marched and 
countermarched with unusual spirit, while the 
drummer beat as though he were drubbing 
King George himself, and Eli Skinner’s fife 
played up shrill and defiant. 

“ The boys do well, very well,” said Colonel 
Wells to Captain Timothy Childs, who had 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 115 

come down from the north part of Greenfield 
expressly to see the drill. 

They will give a good account of them- 
selves if it comes to actual fighting/’ said 
Captain Childs. I intend to organize a com- 
pany of militia in the north part of the town.” 

Captain Childs had acquired his title by 
valiant service in the French and Indian wars. 

No one could be more competent than your- 
self for that duty/’ said Colonel Wells. ^^It is 
high time we colonists were preparing actively 
to defend our rights.” 

At noon the soldiers bivouacked in the shade 
of the trees on the brow of the pleasant hill 
and ate the luncheons they had brought with 
them, being further refreshed by various drinks 
hospitably provided by Colonel Wells. 

The companies drilled all the afternoon, and 
then the Shelburne boys marched home, feeling 
that they had done a good day’s work. As each 
returned to his home afar on some lonely hill- 
side, he carried the news of the Boston Port 
Bill, and that night a blaze of indignant patri- 
otism burned high on the scattered Shelburne 
farms. 

As Captain Wells, David, and Noah, rather 
footsore and weary after their day’s strenuous 


116 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

exertions, approached home, they saw William 
sitting on a stump by the road, evidently await- 
ing their arrival. 

William must have important news to tell,’^ 
said David. 

Father ! ’’ cried William, as they drew near, 
what do you think ? Israel has caught a wild 
goose ! ” 

All laughed, and the captain said : 

You mean shot a wild goose, William.” 

No, sir, I mean just what I say. Israel 
took a gun, — mother said he might, — and 
he and I went up towards the west woods to 
watch for game. By and by we heard a loud 
‘ honk, honk ’ overhead, and there was a flock 
of wild geese, shaped just like the letter V, 
flying north. Israel fired, and he hit one ! It 
dropped, but when we ran to pick it up, it was 
only wounded, not killed, and Israel is going 
to keep it and tame it.” 

^^So there will be no roast goose for sup- 
per,” said David. You made my mouth 
water.” 

And mine too,” said Noah. I ’m famished 
after marching around all day with only a dry 
lunch at noon.” 

No, sir-ee. You don’t get Israel’s wild goose. 


THE MILITIA COMPANY. 117 

But mother has a nice hot Johnny-cake in the 
bake-oven for you.” 

Well, that ’s good news, anyway,” said Noah. 

Israel calls his goose Jezebel, she is so ugly 
and picks at him so fiercely,” continued William, 
whose head was full of the wild goose. Israel 
says he shall clip her wings, so she can’t fly 
away. And to-morrow we are going to build a 
pen for her. Father, please let me carry your 
gun.” 

It weighs about as much as you, my boy,” 
said the father. ^^Your day for carrying guns 
will come later.” 

My day is always coming and never here,” 
said William. I ’m afraid everything will be 
over before it comes.” 

I think there will still be a few things left 
for you to do, my son, when your day arrives,” 
said his father. 


CHAPTER XL 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 

N owhere can June be lovelier than on 
Shelburne hills. The tall grass that covered 
the home lot rippled in waves as the summer 
breeze blew across the field. Yellow buttercups, 
with yellow butterflies dancing above them like 
detached flowers, waved in the wind. Oxeye 
daisies and wild roses adorned the roadside, and 
the depths of the woods were brightened by the 
blossoms of the dogwood and wild cherry and 
the first blooms of the pink mountain laurel. 
The trees in the fresh and tender green of their 
new leaves made picturesque frames for the ex- 
quisite views one caught from every summit, 
extending across the valley to the mountains 
beyond, blue with the haze of distance. 

It was not strange that the Wells girls longed 
to be outdoors. But idling was not allowed. 
No one was expected to leave her work and go 
gadding abroad without some good excuse 
Mary bethought herself of one. 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 


119 


Mother/’ she said, don’t you think we had 
best lay in a store of flag-root to dry ^ There is 
plenty down by the brook.” 

It certainly would be well,” said the mother. 
‘‘ Nothing is better for a cough than sugared flag- 
root. After the dinner dishes are done, you girls 
might go for some. But don’t stay too long. 
The rest of those rolls must be spun to-day, ready 
for my weaving to-morrow.” 

We will not dawdle, mother,” said Mary. 

After Eunice had wiped the dishes, she went 
up to the rock to play with William and Walter. 
The summer air, sweet with the odors of grass 
and wild-grape blossoms, blew pleasantly around 
the children, and they were playing happily. 

Eunice had dinner” all ready on the rock 
table, — some sorrel leaves and young birch- 
bark, with a few wild strawberries, set forth 
on bits of broken crockery. 

^^Come to dinner, boys,” she called to her 
sihall brothers, who were marching up and down, 
keeping step to William’s one, two, one, two,” 
uttered in a tone of military command. 

Here she saw Mary, Patience, and Lucinda 
coming out of the house, with pans and knives. 

Oh, girls,” she cried, if you are going to 
the brook for flag-root, I ’m going with you,” and 


120 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

away she ran, deserting her dinner, of which the 
two small boys soon made short work. 

The brook flowed through a hollow west of 
the house. In the marshy land, each side its 
banks, the girls found plenty of the long green 
flags growing. They pulled and dug them up, 
cutting ofl the tops. Here, too, they found many 
cowslips, which gave them further excuse for 
tarrying outdoors in the June sunshine. 

Mother will be glad of a big mess of cowslip 
greens to boil for dinner to-morrow, I know,” 
said Patience. 

Mrs. Wells was beginning to think the girls 
were gone an unnecessarily long time, when 
at last they appeared, their pans piled high 
with flag-root and cowslip greens. Eunice also 
brought in a bouquet of wild columbine, which 
she put in a pitcher on the mantle. 

You have done well, girls,” said Mrs. Wells. 

Now, Mary and Patience, go to your spinning. 
Lucinda, you and Eunice may help me clean and 
cut the flag-root.” 

The pungent flag-root was scraped clean, 
sliced, and boiled slowly in a thick sugar syrup, 
then dried in the sun, making a comflt that the 
children needed no urging to take as a remedy. 
In fact, Mrs Wells had to watch it closely while 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 121 

drying, lest the two small boys be tempted be- 
yond their power of resistance. 

The two little boys, left alone on the rock, 
after their dinner ” was over, cast about for 
something else to do. 

There goes Israel,” cried William, ‘‘ down to 
the brook with a shovel. Come on, Walter; 
let’s go and see what he means to do.” 

The brook, circling around from the swamp, 
crossed the lower land south and back of Captain 
Wells’s house. A bridge spanned it, for the road 
which ran from Captain Wells’s down to the 
Albany road. Israel was hard at work, digging 
above the bridge. 

What are you doing, Israel ? ” 

^^I’m building a dam to make a pond for 
Jezebel. She needs a pond.” 

Jezebel had now become quite tame, so that, 
when let out of her pen, she made no effort to 
escape, returning to her pen at night “ as tame 
as any old hen,” Israel said. He had shining 
visions of future wealth, based on two fine large 
eggs which Jezebel had laid. 

I shall set her eggs and raise a big flock of 
geese,” he said, ‘^and then sell their feathers. 
Live geese feathers bring a high price. Will 
you buy feathers of me, mother?” 


122 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Of course,” said his mother, smiling. 

Israel is evidently cut out for the million- 
naire of the family,” said Noah. 

^^You needn’t laugh, Noah; you just wait 
and see,” said Israel. 

William and Walter offered to help Israel 
build the dam. 

Great help you ’ll be, I guess,” said Israel. 

Here comes Larry. I suppose he wants to 
^ help ’ too. Look out, Walter. You ’re getting 
wet.” 

The sturdy William proved a valuable helper, 
tugging stones almost too big for him to lift. 
As for Larry, he really helped, too, by keeping 
Walter so busy throwing sticks into the water 
for the dog to bring out, and then chasing him 
about to pull the stick from Larry’s tightly shut 
jaws, that the little fellow was prevented from 
getting in the brook himself. 

As the boys were busily working, they heard 
the ^ click ’ of a horse’s hoofs on the bridge 
below. Israel saw a horseman whom he recog- 
nized as Mr. Joseph Stebbins of Deerfield. 

Is your father at home ? ” asked Mr. Stebbins. 

Yes, sir. He ’s over on the hill yonder, at 
work,” said Israel. 

When Captain Wells saw Mr. Stebbins riding 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 123 

up the rude cart path, he hastened to give him 
cordial greeting. 

I have ridden out,’’ said Mr. Stebbins, “ to 
consult with you of Shelburne about matters 
pertaining to the state of our country. News 
has just come from Boston that General Gage 
has ordered two regiments of soldiers to encamp 
on Boston Common ; two companies of artillery 
and eight cannon have been sent to Castle Wil- 
liam. The king’s fleet controls the harbor, and 
more battalions of infantry are daily expected.” 

Then Boston is really in a state of siege,” 
said Captain Wells. 

Yes. The king thinks thus to compel the 
people to pay for the tea. But Joseph Warren 
and Samuel Adams and the other leaders remind 
the people constantly that payment in any form 
is yielding the question, and will open the way 
to total submission, — to slavery, in fact.” 

They are right, and so every true patriot 
will say,” said Captain Wells. 

^^At a big town meeting held June seven- 
teenth,” continued Mr. Stebbins, they fixed on 
September first as the date of a Congress of all 
the colonies, to be held at Philadelphia, and chose 
Samuel and John Adams, Cushing, and Kobert 
Treat Paine as delegates from this province. It 


124 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

is proposed to raise money for their expenses 
by a tax on the province, each town bearing 
its share.’' 

Is it believed the other colonies will join in 
this Congress ? ” asked Captain Wells. 

^^Yes, New York will, and New Hampshire, 
Ehode Island, and Maryland have already elected 
delegates. And great news comes from Virginia.” 

What is it ? ” asked Captain Wells eagerly. 

‘‘ Their House of Burgesses took most patriotic 
action on hearing of the Boston Port Bill. They 
voted to make June first, the day the port closed, 
a day of fasting.” 

Our province observed that day as a Fast 
Day, as was meet,” said Captain Wells, ^‘but it 
is indeed good news that Virginia stands by the 
patriot cause so stanchly.” 

The papers say that June first was ushered 
in there by the tolling of bells, and observed by 
all true patriots as a day of fasting, humiliation, 
and prayer. Major Washington fasted rigidly, 
and George Mason ordered his family to attend 
church in mourning. So you see Virginia may 
be depended on to sustain the patriotic cause to 
the last.” 

I have always believed that the other colo- 
nies would feel that our cause was their own,” 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 


125 


said Captain Wells. ^^One colony cannot lose 
its rights without endangering those of all the 
rest/’ 

Here Mr. Stebbins drew from his pocket 
a large, sealed document, addressed to Cap- 
tain Wells at Deerfield, ^^in care of Joseph 
Stebbins.” 

This is no doubt a copy of the solemn 
League and Covenant sent out by the Boston 
committee to all the towns. Deerfield has re- 
ceived a copy. The subscribers to it bind them- 
selves to drop all intercourse with Great Britain 
after August first, until our chartered rights are 
restored to us.” 

We shall no doubt hold a special town meet- 
ing here at once, to take action,” said Captain 
Wells. 

Opening the document, the captain found with 
it a letter, stating that this plan had been adopted 
to recall the British oppressors to reason. The 
subscriptions of the people were entreated ‘^as 
the last and only method of preserving the land 
from slavery without drenching it in blood.” 

Captain Wells hastened to confer with his fel- 
low selectmen, and a town meeting was called 
at the meeting-house July 20, 1774, ^Ho see if 
the District will sign the Covenant that was 


126 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

sent from Boston not to purchase any goods 
imported from Great Britain after the first day 
of October next.’’ Also, to see if five pounds, 
ten shillings, ten pence shall be drawn out of 
the town treasury to pay those men that go to 
sit with the Congress, which is our proportion 
with the whole province.” 

David and Noah were much stirred on hear- 
ing the news of the latest oppressions upon 
Boston. 

“ There ’s not much doubt how we Shelburne 
men will vote on that question,” said David. 

It ’s a shame I ’m not old enough yet to 
vote,” said Noah. But I will be after next 
October fifth, that’s one good thing.” 

Noah had to see his father and David ride off 
to town meeting, while he stayed tamely at home 
to work in the hay-field, with such help as he 
could get out of Israel. 

Never mind, Noah,” said his father, appre- 
ciating how the boy felt. You are also helping 
your country by working here at home. The 
country will need everything that can be raised, 
to provide for the struggle which I fear is 
ahead of us. So you are doing a patriot’s duty 
too.” 

That may be,” thought Noah, as he watched 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 


127 


his father riding away, spurring his horse to 
overtake David. But haying is n’t half so in- 
teresting as going to town meeting, hearing the 
speeches, and voting. 

Come on, boys,” he called to Israel and 
William, who were turning somersaults over 
a hay-cock. ^^Quit your fooling and get to 
work. You go to the barn, Israel, get the ox- 
cart, and drive down to the hay-field. William, 
come with me. You can rake after cart as 
well as any one. Let’s show father what we 
can do.” 

At the little town meeting on top of the hill 
excitement ran high when it was learned that 
Governor Gage had issued a proclamation pro- 
nouncing the league not to purchase articles 
imported from Great Britain hostile and trait- 
orous,” and enjoining magistrates everywhere 
to arrest and hold for trial all persons who 
should publish, sign, or invite others to sign 
the covenant.” It was also said that Samuel 
Adams and others of the Boston committee 
were to be seized and put in jail. 

But the committee,” said Dr. John Long, 
who had recently returned from Boston, ^^met, 
and voted to ^ attend to their business as usual.’ 
They will not run or hide.” 


128 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

^^They know the people of the province will 
stand by them/’ said Captain Kemp. 

And of the neighboring provinces too/’ said 
Dr. Long. Provisions are pouring into be- 
leagured Boston. South Carolina has sent two 
hundred barrels of rice, and promised eight hun- 
dred more ; Windham, Connecticut, sent in two 
hundred and fifty-eight sheep, and so it goes. 
From all over the country stores of food as 
well as money are being constantly sent in. 
But it shows the state of tyranny in Boston, 
that, when the Marblehead men wanted to send 
a quantity of fish, they were obliged to carry 
them around by land. No boat, not so much as 
a ferry-boat, is allowed in Boston harbor.” 

The men of Shelburne, deeply stirred by these 
reports, voted to adhere to the ‘^League and 
Covenant,” and also voted to pay the town’s 
portion of the sum required to send the Massa- 
chusetts delegates to the Continental Congress 
in Philadelphia the following September. 

Like action was taken by all the towns 
around. It might, and probably did, seem to 
Governor Gage a trifling matter what action 
was taken by these insignificantly small towns 
in Western Massachusetts. What could they do 
against powerful Great Britain? He did not 


THE SUMMER OF 1774. 129 

reflect on the truth of the Scotch proverb, 
^‘Many mickles make a muckle.'' 

Well, girls,’' said Mrs. Wells, when her hus- 
band and David returned and reported the 
town’s action, this means redoubled work for 
us. No more imported silks for the Boston 
dames, or woollens and calicoes for us. Here- 
after our own lands must raise the materials for 
our dresses, and our own hands spin and weave 
them.” 

“We can do it, mother,” said Mary. 

“ I want to learn to weave now,” said 
Lucinda. 

“I’ll have Patience give you a lesson to- 
morrow,” said Mrs. Wells. 

“ Can’t I learn too, mother ? ” asked Eunice. 

“ Your part, for a while yet, will be to wind 
the thread in skeins on the reel,” said her 
mother. “But it is all part of the whole.” 

“I am glad to see my girls, as well as my 
boys, patriotic,” said Captain Wells. 

“ Girls are not to be despised, father,” said 
Patience. 


9 


CHAPTER XII. 


MOBBING IN DEERFIELD. 

E xcitement ran high in Deerfield, this 
summer of 1774. The fact that most of 
the leading men in town, including the minister, 
were Tories, while there was also a large body 
of determined Whigs, gave rise to many con- 
flicts, these troubled times.^ 

Noah, who had been to Deerfield for the mail 
one August afternoon, came home with exciting 
news. 

^^The Sons of Liberty have set up a tall 
Liberty Pole before David Field’s store,” said 
Noah. The boys drew it ^to town towards 
night, and left it in front of the store, intending 
to erect it the next day. During the night some 
Tory rascals sawed that pole in two. But the 
Whigs got another, taller than the first, and set 
it up in defiance of the Tories.” 

I hope they will not get to fighting among 
themselves in Deerfield,” said Mrs. Wells. 


1 Appendix C. 


MOBBING IN DEERFIELD. 


131 


The Whigs will not stand insults tamely/’ 
said Noah. David Dickinson told me that on 
our Fast Day the Tories not only took no notice 
of it, because our General Court had appointed 
it, but tried to show their contempt in every 
way possible. And Parson Ashley had a tea- 
party the very next day, just after we have been 
asked not to use any British articles ! ” 

Where did he get tea, pray?” asked Cap- 
tain Wells. ‘^Does any one in Deerfield dare 
sell tea ? ” 

The parson sent his son, on Fast Day, mind 
you, down to Colonel Israel Williams’s store in 
Hatfield for the tea. And the next day his son 
carried a pound over to Parson Newton’s wife in 
Greenfield.” 

‘‘ Mrs. Newton must have relished that tea ! ” 
exclaimed Mrs. Wells, involuntarily. 

Mother ! ” exclaimed her children, horri- 
fied, while her husband regarded her with some 
surprise. 

mean,” explained Mrs. Wells, not without 
a blush, just what I say. We all know how 
a good cup of tea relishes. I am not upholding 
Mrs. Newton in drinking it, only I could n’t 
help thinking how good it must have tasted to 
her.” 


132 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

‘‘Don’t be alarmed, children/’ said the cap- 
tain. “Your mother is not turning Tory yet, 
if she does sometimes yearn for her cup of 
tea.” 

“Nothing would tempt me to touch a drop 
of it now, much as I like it,” said Mrs. Wells. 

“ Three cheers for mother ! ” said Mary. 

“ Dickinson says, what every one knows, that 
Colonel Israel Williams is a terrible old Tory. 
He attended meeting in Deerfield last Sunday. 
Going up to Parson Ashley’s at noon, he passed 
the new Liberty Pole. He told some one that such 
a pole was ‘ a profanation of the ordinance.’ ” 

“ Ridiculous ! ” exclaimed Captain Wells. 

“ The Deerfield people expect exciting times 
when the session of the courts begins the last 
of this month, ” continued Noah. “ The Whigs 
are determined no judges, sheriffs, or counsellors 
appointed by the king under the Regulator Act 
shall serve. There is free talk of mobs if they 
try to hold court.” 

“ I hope there will be no violence. Mobs will 
hurt the Whig cause more than they will help 
it, I fear,” said Captain Wells. 

Later on Liberty Poles were heard of in 
other towns in Western Massachusetts. Hadley 
erected one a hundred and thirty feet high. In 


MOBBING IN DEERFIELD. 


133 


Montague the Whigs erected a Liberty Pole 
near the meeting-house. The minister, being 
like many of the clergy a Tory sympathizer, 
on the following Sunday preached a sermon on 
the sin of erecting such an Idol,” whereupon 
Moses Gunn, an ardent Whig, retorted trench- 
antly. He said that a Liberty Pole could be 
treated as an Idol and the Persons who set it 
up as Idolaters ” would never have entered 
his head.” He then told the minister what the 
pole meant. It means this people are for 
liberty. I wish it reached to the clouds ! ” 

Early in September Captain Wells rode down 
to Deerfield. As he came out of the Albany 
road upon the common, he saw about one hun- 
dred men gathered in front of Jonathan Arms’s 
blacksmith shop, across the common. 

David Saxton was standing on his tavern 
steps, looking across at the crowd. 

What is this ? ” asked Captain Wells. Not 
a mob, I hope.” 

“ No, these are law and order men, of both 
parties, whose aim is to put down mob violence 
on either side,” said Saxton. There are all 
sorts of rumors afloat. Last night a party of 
Tories garrisoned the house of ’Squire Ashley, 
expecting he would be visited by a mob. About 


134 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

three o’clock this morning a messenger rode in 
from Hatfield, saying that all Western Massa- 
chusetts was going to mob Colonel Israel 
Williams and others in that town, and begging 
help. Our men are just starting for Hatfield. 
We are bound to prevent mobbing.” 

The Deerfield men rode off to the south, 
while Wells and Saxton were talking. 

“ It is certainly of the utmost importance for 
the friends of law and order to act together 
now,” said Captain Wells. Since that body 
of a thousand or more men at Springfield took 
possession of the court-house steps, and would 
not allow the court to sit, and compelled the 
judges to swear not to execute any commission 
under General Gage, there has been a tendency 
to lawlessness.” 

‘‘You are right,” said Saxton. “We have 
had stirring times here. The evening of Fast 
Day a Whig mob hunted out Phineas Munn, 
seized him, and forced him to make a confession. 
Judge Williams’s friends gathered at his house, 
armed with guns, expecting the mob would 
attack him next ; but nothing more was done. 
No real violence has been committed yet, but 
such a spirit, once started, is apt to grow be- 
yond control.” 


MOBBING IN DEERFIELD. 


135 


^^Yes, the mob spirit is truly a dangerous 
thing to get started in a community/' said 
Captain Wells, ^^and I am glad your wiser 
people are determined to hold it in check." 

^‘Are you going down to the convention at 
Northampton the twentieth ? " asked Saxton. 

‘^Yes, I expect to” said the captain. 

To this convention all the towns of Western 
Massachusetts were called, to consider the 
measures to be adopted in view of the attack 
of Parliament on the province’s charter rights. 
It held two days’ session at Northampton, and 
recommended a strict observance of the Non- 
importation Act, agreement that no money be 
paid to the royal treasurer, that the people drill 
under military leaders, and that a Provincial 
Congress meet at Concord, October second. 

When Captain Wells rode homeward after his 
two days’ absence at this convention, the young 
moon was just setting, and the depths of the 
woods each side the road looked dark and mys- 
terious as the captain rode along. Sometimes 
there was a rustling in the dead leaves, or the 
cracking of a twig, denoting that some wild 
creature was prowling in the forest. Captain 
Wells was armed, in case of trouble, but did not 
go out of his way to seek it, as he rode on, pon- 


136 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

dering his country’s difficulties and all that might 
be impending. 

Drawing near home about nine o’clock, he 
was startled to hear two shots fired. Then the 
front door burst open, and out rushed his wife, 
the girls, Israel, and Larry. 

Oh, I hope they Ve shot him ! ” cried Mary. 
I ’m going out to the barnyard,” said Israel, 
starting to run, while Larry was already far 
ahead, barking wildly. 

‘^Israel, come back! Come back this min- 
ute ! ” cried his mother. You might be shot 
in the dark by mistake.” 

What does all this mean ? ” cried Captain 
Wells, as he leaped from his horse. What is 
the matter ? Where are the boys ? ” 

Out at the barn, I suppose,” said Mrs. Wells. 

They were determined to find out what crea- 
ture has been preying on our flocks. Say all I 
could, they went out there with their guns last 
night, and watched all night, but nothing ap- 
peared. So they were determined to try again 
to-night.” 

The Wellses drove their sheep and calves 
nightly into the barnyard with its high palisade, 
to protect them from the wild animals which 
still frequented Shelburne woods. But of late 


MOBBING IN DEERFIELD. 


137 


every few nights a sheep or lamb had disap- 
peared from the barnyard during the night, and 
the boys had resolved to catch the mysterious 
depredator. Israel had been extremely anxious 
to join his older brothers, but his mother would 
not allow it. 

David and Noah went out with their guns 
after dark and concealed themselves in the 
barnyard, keeping perfectly quiet. The night 
here in the country was intensely still, and the 
boy’s ears were strained for the least sound. 

The thin sickle of the new moon gave but a 
faint light, hardly more than the starlight. By 
and by, the boys heard a soft footfall outside the 
fence, — that is, the leaves rustled as if some- 
thing were moving through them. 

David nudged Noah, and both boys cocked 
their guns. 

The branches of a tall tree growing close out- 
side the fence overhung the barnyard. Now the 
boys heard a scratching, clawing noise on the 
trunk of this tree. Straining their eyes through 
the dim light, they perceived a large, dark object 
ascending its trunk. Then it crawled out on one 
of the overhanging boughs, lying low on the limb. 

Shall we fire now, or wait ? ” whispered 
Noah. 


138 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEYEN. 

Better saYe a lamb/’ said DaYid. 

Both guns rang out. The animal fell heaYily 
to the ground. The boys went nearer, but not 
too near, until they had again fired, making 
sure that the creature was dead. 

The group standing in the open door as the 
boys came into the light, bringing their load, 
cried out : 

What is it ? ” 

Why, it ’s a panther, and a big one too,” 
said Captain Wells. 

He will never make way with any more of 
our sheep, that ’s certain,” said Noah, as he and 
David dropped the heavy body on the grass, in 
the ray of candle-light streaming out from the 
door. 

How powerfully he is built ! ” said David. 

Look at his muscles ! No wonder he could 
jump back into the tree with a lamb in his 
mouth. He looks equal to it.” 

You ’ve done well, boys,” said the captain. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


A WEDDING. 

O NE Sunday evening in September, Lucinda, 
who happened to sit by the front window, 
heard horses’ hoofs down the road. As travel- 
lers were few, she cried excitedly : 

Oh, girls, some one ’s coming ! ” 

Then, peering out through the semi-darkness, 
she said : 

There are two horsemen riding up the new 
road from Greenfield. I ’m not sure, but I think 
they are John Wells and Moses Arms.” 

Yes,” said Eunice, who had run to look out 
over Lucinda’s shoulder, it is they, and they ’re 
coming here.” 

A new road had recently been opened from 
Greenfield, following the banks of the brook 
which ran behind the Wellses’ house and then 
plunged down the mountain side, leaping in cas- 
cades over the rocks of a wild, mossy gorge. 
John and Moses had shown a commendable de- 
sire to improve this new road, riding out quite 
often of late. 


140 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY -SEVEN. 

At Lucinda’s announcement Mary and Pa- 
tience seemed agitated, and began to smooth 
their locks and adjust their dress, with furtive 
glances in the gilt-framed mirror on the wall, 
as they asked each other: 

Is my hair all right ? ” 

The riders, as the girls had surmised, proved 
to be John Wells and his friend Moses. After 
chatting a while they broached their errand, 
which proved to be most important. 

^^We have come,” said John, ^^to ask you 
young ladies to attend a wedding in Greenfield.” 

A wedding ! ” exclaimed the girls in chorus. 

Whose, pray ? ” 

Elijah Dwight’s and Diana Hinsdale’s.” 

^^Oh, yes, we know Diana. So the day is 
fixed at last.” 

^^Yes, they are to be married the twenty- 
seventh. We are asked, with liberty to bring 
any ladies we please, and would like to have 
you and Patience go, if your parents consent.” 

The girls were most agreeably excited and 
flattered by this invitation, and eager to accept. 
Not since they had left Connecticut had an 
opportunity for 'such social gayety come in their 
way. They eagerly sought their parents and 
laid the case before them. 


A WEDDING. 


141 


Now a wedding was a wedding in those days, 
usually involving several days’ festivities. As 
Mr. Dwight, the bridegroom, lived in Belcher- 
town, acceptance would no doubt include a 
jaunt to that town, among other features. 

Captain and Mrs. Wells conferred with the 
young men, inquired into all the details of the 
affair, and then held a private consultation 
before giving their answer. 

^^I’m almost afraid to have the girls go off 
on such a jaunt,” said Mrs. Wells. Patience 
is rather delicate, and young folks are so apt to 
be careless. To dance all day, and then ride in 
the cool of the evening, will certainly give 
Patience a cold.” 

^^You cannot keep your girls under a glass 
case, mother,” said the captain. They have to 
take their chances in life, like other young 
people. They will no doubt come home rather 
tired, but that will not hurt them. If they are 
going out at all, they could not have safer escorts 
than young Arms and their cousin John.” 

Yes, I know they belong to some of the best 
old families and are fine young men in every 
way,” said Mrs. Wells. suppose we had 
best consent, the girls’ hearts are so set on 
going.” 


142 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

They will not be young but once. Every 
dog has his day. This is their day. Better 
let them enjoy it/’ said the captain. 

Consent was given for the girls to attend the 
wedding, Mrs. Wells impressing it upon the 
young men that she should expect them to 
take the best care of her daughters. 

You may depend on that, Mrs. Wells,” 
said Moses Arms. ^^We are invited by my 
cousin Aaron to spend the night each way, 
going and coming, at the house of his father, 
my uncle Daniel Arms in Deerfield, so we shall 
be in good quarters.” 

What is the latest news from Boston, 
John?” asked the captain. 

Matters there are getting worse and worse, 
we hear. The first of this month General Gage 
sent soldiers out to Charlestown, where our 
province keeps its powder for the militia stored, 
you know.” 

^^Yes. The towns were beginning to take 
away each its own share,” said Captain Wells. 

^‘Well, Gage’s soldiers seized all the powder 
in the public magazine, over two hundred and 
fifty half barrels, ’t is said, and carried it to the 
castle. And they carried off two field-pieces 
from Cambridge.” 


A WEDDING. 


143 


A high-handed outrage ! ’’ exclaimed the 
captain. “He had no right to touch a grain 
of that powder.’’ 

“ The whole eastern end of the State was up 
in arms about it,” said John. “Thousands of 
men swarmed in and around Boston ; Gage 
dared not send out his troops against them. 
If he had, Warren said they would have been 
annihilated before they had marched five miles 
into the country, the people were so enraged. 
Gage has sent to England for more troops. 
And he has fortified Boston neck; thrown up 
earthworks across, as if in an enemy’s country.” 

“ That certainly looks as if war were near at 
hand,” said Captain Wells. 

“ The Suffolk County Convention met the 
next day at Dedham. They sent Joseph War- 
ren in to General Gage to remonstrate against 
these fortifications in the name of Suffolk 
County.” 

“ Gage will not pay any attention to that,” 
said Captain Wells. 

“No, probably not. But it will show the 
other colonies that we have used every means 
to avert war. The Convention despatched cop- 
ies of their resolutions by a special courier to 
the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. Best 


144 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

of all, they have arranged to send couriers with 
written messages to the selectmen or committee 
of correspondence of every town in the colony, 
to notify them in case of any sudden alarm.’' 

A wise plan,” said Captain Wells. One 
thing is certain: it plainly behooves us of the 
militia to be prepared for a sudden call.” 

The young people now strolled out for an 
evening walk, when all the details of the com- 
ing wedding were talked over fully. 

It is needless to say that from that evening 
until the eventful day of the wedding the 
girls’ minds were much occupied with the great 
question of dress. They clapped and clear- 
starched and ironed laces and muslins, made 
fresh bows of ribbon, and anxiously tried on 
dresses to be sure that all was right. 

The evening before the wedding the girls 
arrayed themselves in all their finery, and came 
downstairs to be inspected by the assembled 
family. 

They certainly looked very pleasing. Mary’s 
dress was a damask silk, formerly her mother’s, 
richly flowered with pink roses, with a quilted 
petticoat of plain silk to match. She wore a 
lace stomacher and her mother’s gold beads. 
In her hair, which was powdered and drawn 


A WEDDING. 145 

up over a cushion, she wore a jaunty knot of 
pink ribbon. 

Patience, who had blue eyes and blond hair, 
was dressed in like fashion, only her damask 
silk was blue, made from a dress sent her by 
the aunt in Connecticut for whom she was 
named, the same aunt's gold beads encircling 
her fair neck. 

Well, how do you think we look, mother?" 
said Mary, as she and Patience spread out their 
skirts and made a deep courtesy. 

Will we do ? " asked Patience. 

Yes, you will do very well," said the proud 
mother, careful to refrain from any compliment. 

Noah, who had just entered, took off his 
cocked hat, held it to his heart, and made a 
deep bow, saying with mock gallantry : 

“ Fair damsels, allow me to pay tribute to 
your charms." 

Tut, tut, Noah," said his mother. Don't 
be foolish. You ’ll turn the girls' heads." 

You look lovely," said Lucinda. I wish I 
were a young lady going to the wedding." 

People are so pretty when they are dressed 
up," said Eunice. wish I had a damask 
silk." 

Fine feathers don't make fine birds," said 
10 


146 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

the captain. “ If the girls behave as well as 
they look, they will do well enough. In fact, 
if they behave so that we have no reason to be 
ashamed of them, it does n’t matter how they 
look.” 

Captain Wells, as his eyes dwelling fondly 
on them plainly showed in spite of himself, ad- 
mired his pretty girls vastly, but it was not the 
New England fashion to praise or flatter young 
people. 

The next day, about noon, the young gal- 
lants rode up to the door, where the girls’ 
horses were already standing, ready saddled. 
The girls donned their safeguard skirts, their 
red cloaks with many capes, their silk hoods, 
and mounted their horses, all happy smiles and 
blushes. 

I ’m like Lucinda,” said David. I almost 
wish I too were going to the wedding.” 

With pretty Mistress Hubbard as companion, 
I suppose,” said John, slyly. 

David blushed as he bent to tighten Patience’s 
saddle-girth, while Mary said : 

Yes, you may be certain Phoebe Hubbard 
would go if David did.” 

The young couples rode down the new road 
through the wild mountain gorge, and up 


A WEDDING. 


147 


through Greenfield meadows to Samuel Hins- 
dale’s. Here they found a large party assem- 
bled, including several couples from Deerfield, 
and some from Belchertown. A wedding supper 
was served, after which the marriage was per- 
formed by Rev. Roger Newton, the Greenfield 
minister. The young guests then danced until 
after nine o’clock, when all the weddingers ” 
set forth for Deerfield, where, with the generous 
hospitality of the time, the party was enter- 
tained at the houses of different friends. 

The next morning the bridal pair, escorted by 
their young friends, rode from Deerfield down 
through Sunderland and Amherst to Belcher- 
town. They dined at Amherst, and rested there 
about an hour. As they rode on east from 
Amherst, a long procession of horses and 
riders was seen approaching, gayly trotting 
towards them. This proved to be twenty-six 
couples from Belchertown, who had ridden 
forth to meet the weddingers ” and escort them 
into town. 

This long procession of gay young folk, mostly 
on horseback, was a pleasing sight, and attracted 
much attention all along the way. 

Sarah! Hannah! Come quick! The wed- 
dingers are riding past ! And see that couple in 


148 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

one of those new-fangled chaises ! ” was the cry 
at many a house. 

For young Elihu Ashley of Deerfield, son 
of the parson, carried Miss Polly Williams, 
daughter of the Deerfield doctor, in a carriage.^ 
Carriages were none too common, even in Bos- 
ton. There were none in Greenfield,^ and prob- 
ably this was the only one in the region, so 
young Ashley and Miss Polly were the observed 
of all observers as they rode along. 

The groom's house in Belchertown was 
reached at two o'clock. After dressing, the 
party dined at the house of the groom's father, 
and then returned to the groom's and danced. 
That night was spent in Belchertown, the out- 
of-town guests being entertained at the houses 
of the groom's friends. 

The next afternoon a still larger company 
assembled at the groom's, many friends coming 
in from Belchertown, and the whole afternoon 
and evening were spent in dancing. 

The next morning, at ten o'clock, having seen 
young Dwight and his bride well started in 
married life, the guests from Greenfield and 
Deerfield set out for home, escorted well on their 

1 Sheldon’s History of Deerfield, page 690. 

2 Appendix D. 


A WEDDING. 


149 


way to Amherst by a number of couples from 
Belcbertown. They reached Deerfield about six 
that afternoon. 

Mary and Patience again spent the night at 
Daniel Arms's and the next morning were 
escorted home. Elihu Ashley brought them out 
a letter addressed : 

‘‘To Capt. David Welles, 

Shelburne. 

To the Care of Rev’d Mr. Ashley, 

Deerfield.'* 

^^This is from Connecticut, I know/' said 
Mary. Father will be delighted, for it is 
long since we have heard from our Connecticut 
friends." 

^‘Father is anxious to know how they feel 
down there about the state of the country," said 
Patience. He wants to know how they stand." 

I don't believe there is much doubt how 
they stand. I 'm sure you don't number any 
Tories among your relatives," said Moses Arms. 

^•T should hope not," said Patience, with a 
scornful toss of her pretty head. 

The girls were certainly tired, after their 
exciting four days’ gayety, but one long night's 
sleep restored them; and they had enjoyed so 


150 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

much, had so many interesting things to tell 
about the people and places they had seen, the 
new ideas they had picked up, that their hap- 
piness brightened life for the whole family on 
the remote farm. 

Captain Wells’s letter proved to be from 
his brother, the Rev. Dr. Noah Wells of the 
First Church at Stamford, Connecticut. After 
mentioning various items of family news, the 
letter said : 

“ I heartily condole with your province, and espe- 
cially Boston the Capital, suffering under the cruel 
hand of arbitrary and tyrannical acts of the British 
Parliament. You have many cordial friends in these 
parts who consider you as suffering in the common 
cause of American Liberty. Collections are made 
and making in this town for the Relief of the 
Sufferers in Boston. The aspects of Divine Provi- 
dence are truly dark and threatening with respect to 
the British Empire in general as well as America. 
May Divine Providence protect us, humble us for our 
sins, the procuring cause of these Judgments, make 
us a reformed, a truly religious, and then we shall be 
a happy people. 

“ . . . Should rejoice at a visit, and to hear from 
you often.” 

I am glad to learn from Brother Noah,” 
said the captain, that Connecticut stands firm. 


A WEDDING. 


151 


and is so heartily with us. I believe all the col- 
onies are with us, and, if war comes, that our 
province wull not have to fight Great Britain 
single-handed.” 

I wish we could accept Brother Noah’s invi- 
tation and pay him a visit,” said Mrs. Wells. 

It seems long indeed since we left Connecticut 
and all our friends there.” 

“ The times are not auspicious now for 
visits,” said her husband. As my brother 
truly says, the aspect is dark and threatening. 
But we will trust in God, and believe that, since 
our cause is just, He will be on our side.” 

Captain Wells, David, and Noah now plunged 
into the Boston papers which the girls had 
brought up, eager to learn the latest tidings 
from Boston, the seat of war. 

The girls noticed that Israel looked downcast, 
and seemed to take no interest in their stories 
or their uncle’s letter. 

What is the matter, Israel ? ” asked Mary. 

Don’t you feel well ? ” 

I ’m all right,” said Israel, gruffly. Good- 
night, everybody. I ’m going to bed,” and out 
he went, slamming the door after him. 

Israel seems all out of sorts. What is the 
reason ? ” asked Mary. 


152 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Israel feels bad/’ said his mother. ^^He 
has met with a great loss. He has neglected 
to clip his goose’s wings lately, as she seemed 
so perfectly contented and at home. Yester- 
day a flock of wild geese flew honking over, 
going south. Jezebel, who was down on her 
pond, gave an answering cry, spread her wings, 
and away she flew with them.” 

^‘That is too bad,” said the girls, full of 
sympathy. 

But David and Noah could not resist teasing 
Israel a little the next day. 

Riches have wings, Israel,” said David. 

^^It’s always the way with the fair sex, 
Israel,” said Noah. “ Jezebel was a fickle 
female, like all her sex. Trust them not. 
^Frailty, thy name is woman,’ as Hamlet 
said.” 

Hang Hamlet,” said Israel. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


IN THE SPRING. 

T he Provincial Congress which met at Cam- 
bridge in October, and then adjourned to 
Concord, took prompt action. It directed the 
towns to provide at once a stock of powder 
and ordnance. It appointed a Committee of 
Safety for the province, among whom were 
John Hancock and Joseph Warren, this com- 
mittee being given power to alarm and muster 
the militia at need. It ordered that one-fourth 
of the militia should hold themselves ready to 
march at a minute’s notice. These were the 
minutemen.” 

Connecticut took similar action, as did most 
of the other colonies. 

In February, 1775, came the report of two 
actions of the British Parliament which only 
served to set the people more firmly towards 
independence. Parliament had excluded the 
fishermen of New England from the Banks of 


154 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Newfoundland and had presented an address 
to George the Third, declaring Massachusetts 
to be ^4n rebellion.” The king, in his reply, 
pledged himself speedily to “enforce obedience 
to the laws, and to the authority of the su- 
preme legislation.” 

Soon after this news reached Shelburne, the 
militia were called to meet on meeting-house 
hill, where a bonfire blazed high before the 
meeting-house. 

After the company was formed, and stood in 
order. Captain David Wells made them a brief 
address. 

“ Fellow Soldiers,” he said, “ I know not 
what course the rest of you may think best to 
pursue, but as for me, I can no longer hold a 
commission from King George. I own alle- 
giance now only to my suffering country, groan- 
ing under his oppressions.” 

So saying, amid loud shouts and huzzas from 
the soldiers. Captain Wells tore his commission 
into a hundred pieces, and threw the fragments 
into the bonfire. Lieutenant Nash followed his 
example, amidst the continued wild applause of 
the soldiers. 

The company was now without officers, and 
disorganized. What should be done next ? 


IN THE SPRING. 


155 


Captain Wells solved the dilemma by saying: 

I will continue to drill you, if that be your 
pleasure, until commissions for officers can be 
obtained from our province’s Committee of 
Safety.” 

More huzzas from the men signified their 
assent, and the drill went on with spirit under 
the company’s volunteer officers. 

On March sixth Shelburne voted to pay her 
minutemen ‘^one shilling lawful money” for 
every half-day they should exercise two half- 
days a week. 

Young Noah Wells had joined the company 
of minutemen commanded by his cousin, Cap- 
tain Agrippa Wells, much more to his own 
satisfaction than his mother’s. His father said : 

You would not want a son, Mary, who held 
back, who was unwilling to do his part in his 
country’s need.” 

^^No, that is true,” said Mrs. Wells. 
admire Noah’s patriotism, but I cannot help 
dreading the time when he may be called into 
service.” 

‘^The matter is in the Lord’s hands. We 
must trust in Him,” said the captain. 

Tidings had come to Shelburne late in the 
winter of exciting events down the valley, the 


156 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

chief being the mobbing of Colonel Israel 
Williams and his son at Hatfield, the leaders 
among the local Tories. A mob of one hundred 
and fifty men had seized Williams and his son 
and carried them to Hadley, where they were 
confined under guard of armed men and nearly 
suffocated by being smoked ” during the night, 
the declared intention being, ^Ho smoke old 
Williams to a Whig, to humble the old Hog.” 
After signing a paper agreeing to do nothing to 
oppose Congress, and not to correspond with 
General Gage, they were released, but later were 
seized again, and confined for some time in 
Northampton jail. 

In March, David Wells, having to ride to 
Deerfield for the mail, saw, as soon as he 
entered the village, that some excitement was 
hurrying men and boys across the common and 
down the street as fast as they could run. 

What is the matter ? ” asked David of 
Elihu Ashley, whom he chanced to meet. 

Another mob ? ” 

I don’t know but our Whigs will think 
they must have a mob,” said Ashley. Some 
of the leading men in Vermont, the judges, the 
high sheriff, and others, have been illegally 
seized at Westminster by a crowd of forty 


IN THE SPRING. 


157 


Whigs, who are now taking them to North- 
ampton jail. They are to spend the night at 
Gatlin’s tavern. My father will no doubt 
visit and condole with them, if suffered to do 
so by their oppressors.” 

David asked no further questions of Ashley, 
whom he well knew to be a strong Tory, but 
hastened on until he reached Gatlin’s tavern, 
near the lower end of Deerfield’s long street. 
A crowd of men and boys filled the street 
before the tavern. Here David heard another 
version of the story from Golonel David Field, 
who said : 

An attempt to hold court at Westminster, 
to assert at once the jurisdiction of New York 
and the king over Vermont, has been frustrated 
by a body of Green Mountain Boys. The Boys 
took possession of the court-house. The high 
sheriff ordered them to be fired upon, and two 
men were shot. As soon as the rumors of this 
outrage spread, armed men poured into West- 
minster until five hundred were gathered there. 
They seized the offenders, tried them in an 
extemporized court, and they are now on their 
way, under an armed guard, to Northampton. 

When David told his father this news, the 
captain said : 


158 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

least one good will be accomplished. 
This will settle the Green Mountain Boys. 
They will be on the right side when the break 
comes, and will do good work there, too.” 

Soon after. Captain Wells received an appoint- 
ment from the Massachusetts Committee of 
Safety as Major in the Fifth Regiment of 
Hampshire County Militia, composed of men 
from the northern part of the county.^ The 
colonel of the regiment was Colonel David Field 
of Deerfield. 

This new responsibility obliged Major Wells 
to be absent from home often, in order to assist 
in the formation and drilling of his regiment. 
And the first of April, when the opening spring 
brought much work needing to be done on the 
large farm. Major Wells was obliged to leave 
for possibly some weeks’ absence. He had been 
chosen a member of the Provincial Congress, 
to meet at Concord. 

Major Wells felt that, at this crisis, the de- 
mands of his country were imperative. Home 
duties must for the time stand second. 

We will do our best to run the farm while 
you are away, father,” said Noah. 

^ Franklin County was at this time a part of Hampshire 
County. 


IN THE SPRING. 


159 


^^Yes, father, you may depend on us,” said 
David. 

^^We will help the boys all we can, father,” 
said the older daughters. 

“ Israel, why don^t you speak up ? ” asked 
Noah. 

No need of my speaking up. Father knows 
you and David will get all the work out of me 
you can, anyway,” grumbled Israel. 

Walter and I are big enough to drive the 
cows alone now,” said William. ‘‘And I can 
milk a little, too.” 

“ I am glad I leave such a willing corps of 
workers behind,” said the major. “I regret 
being obliged to leave at this season, but it 
seems to be my first duty to go.” 

When Major Wells reached Concord, he 
learned that two English vessels had come into 
Marblehead April second, bringing news that 
heavy reinforcements were even then on the 
way to General Gage at Boston, — fourteen 
regiments of foot, two of artillery, and seven- 
teen sail of the line. Also that both houses of 
Parliament had pledged King George their 
lives and fortunes for the reduction of America 
to submission. Benjamin Franklin, who had 
been for months in England, trying to arrange 


160 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

a compromise and avert war, finding all his 
efforts useless, had sailed for Philadelphia. 

The worst tidings, which sent a shudder of 
horror all over New England, was that the 
British, through certain Canadians, were seeking 
to influence the Indians of the Northwest to 
join their army. The horrors of Indian assault 
and massacre were too recent in New England 
to cause this news to be heard without dismay 
and dread. 

Congress immediately took steps to hold the 
Indians neutral in the coming conflict. Dart- 
mouth College, a new institution on the north- 
ern frontier, started primarily to educate Indian 
boys, sent a young preacher, James Dean, who 
understood Iroquois thoroughly, up into Can- 
ada to go about among the tribes there and 
brighten the chain of friendship ’’ Kirkland, 
who had lived as a missionary among the Mo- 
hawks, was sent by Congress to labor among 
that tribe in New York. Congress also sent to 
each of the converted Indians at Stockbridge a gift 
of a blanket or ribbon, in token of friendship. 

Word came from Vermont that the Green 
Mountain Boys had absolutely renounced al- 
legiance to New York and to the king, and the 
Massachusetts patriot leaders, Samuel Adams 


IN THE SPRING. 


161 


and Joseph Warren, received secret word that 
these same Green Mountain Boys stood ready to 
seize Fort Ticonderoga the moment the British 
troops opened hostilities. 

Congress, while preparing for the worst, yet 
forbade any act that might seem to be the be- 
ginning of hostilities. The militia were only to 
act on the defensive. Congress adjourned April 
fifteenth. 

Major Wells set out for home the next day, 
glad to have the company on the road of Sam- 
uel Hinsdale, Greenfield’s representative, and 
of Colonel David Field, the representative from 
Deerfield. They had much anxious talk, as they 
rode along, about the prospects of the country. 
They reached Deerfield the morning of the 
nineteenth. 

I am especially glad to arrive home to-day,” 
said Colonel Field, as the three rode into Deer- 
field, for to-morrow we are to have an impor- 
tant town meeting to inaugurate into office our 
newly elected Whig clerk and treasurer, and 
make provisions for our minutemen. We have 
many prominent Tories in Deerfield, and it is very 
important that every Whig able to go from the 
bed to the chair should be out at town meeting, 
or the Tories may spring some trap on us. Will 
11 


162 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

you not stop at my house, Major Wells, and rest 
before climbing the hill for home ? 

Thank you, no. After my long absence, as 
you will understand, I am impatient to reach 
home and learn how all has gone there/’ 

Calling for his mail at Hoyt’s tavern, Major 
Wells turned down the Albany road. His horse, 
though tired, well knowing that the home stable 
was now near at hand, splashed eagerly into the 
ford and pressed stoutly up the steep western 
hill. 

As Major Wells came out on the hilltop 
whence he caught his first glimpse of the little 
log house, his face was lit with a tender smile. 
Home, — home again, to his loved ones, from 
whom he had heard not a word during his 
absence of almost three weeks. 

Pushing eagerly on, his horse’s hoofs rattled 
over the little bridge. Down the hill came run- 
ning to meet him his three young children, who 
had been playing on the rock, when suddenly 
they saw their father coming. 

‘^Father! Father! Here comes father !” they 
cried joyfully, as they ran to meet him. 

Hardly were the first happy greetings over 
when William and Walter burst out with the 
important news, — 


IN THE SPRING. 


163 


Father, we saw a wolf, we did ! ” 

Eunice runned, but I did n’t/’ said little 
Walter. Me and William just walked away.” 

We went up to the woods to get sassafras,” 
said Eunice. Mother wanted to steep some 
for sassafras tea. Larry was with us, and he 
acted very queerly; kept running up into the 
woods a little way, growling fiercely, then 
coming back to us.” 

And then,” burst in William, a big wolf 
came out of the woods ! Some one had shot him, 
or a panther had jumped on him, — I don’t know 
which. He was all bloody, and he showed his 
teeth and snarled. Eunice ran away as fast as 
she could.” 

I don’t care,” said Eunice. I wanted to 
call David and Noah.” 

But Walter and I just walked away, did n’t 
we, Walter ? We would n’t run for the old wolf, 
would we ? ” 

^^No, sir,” said Walter. 

^‘You walked pretty fast, I noticed,” said 
Eunice. 

Larry stayed behind and kept running up 
towards the wolf, barking and growling, and 
then dodging back. I guess the wolf would 
have chased us but for Larry.” 


164 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Well, well, that was an adventure,’' said 
the major. 

He had dismounted from his horse and put 
the little boys on the horse’s back. 

What happened next ? Did Larry catch the 
wolf ? ” 

^^No, sir. Eunice found Noah and Israel at 
the barn getting a load of manure. David was 
ploughing over on the south hill. Noah ran in 
for his gun, and he and Israel went up to the 
woods and found the wolf easily by Larry’s 
barking, and shot him.” 

His skin is drying on the barn door,” said 
Walter. 

A very good place for it ; better than on the 
wolf’s back,” said Major Wells. 

Here they neared the house, and Mrs. Wells 
and the girls came out joyfully to welcome 
home the returned traveller. 

All has gone very well in your absence,” 
said his wife ; better than I thought possible. 
We missed you sorely, I don’t need to tell you. 
But all the boys worked valiantly ; I will say 
that for them. And we have all kept well, 
thank God.’^ 

^^We have much for which to thank Him,’*’ 
said the major. I cannot tell you how 


IN THE SPRING. 165 

good it is to be at home again, and find all 
well.’’ 

That evening there was brisk talking, natu- 
rally. Finally Patience said: 

Father, you must hear the girls’ new song. 
Lucinda and Eunice learned it of the Nims 
girls while you were away. It is a ballad that 
Mrs. Nims bought of a pedler who stopped over- 
night there. He taught the Nimses the tune.” 

I ’ll give you the pitch,” said David, bring- 
ing out the wooden pitchpipe and sounding the 
right note. 

Lucinda and Eunice had naturally sweet 
voices, and, like all the family, were fond of 
music. Their girlish faces were full of anima- 
tion as they stood side by side and sang: 

“ Of worthy Captain Lovewell I purpose now to sing, 
How valiantly he served his country and his king ; 

He and his valiant soldiers did range the woods full 
wide, 

And hardships they endured, to quell the Indians’ pride. 

“ ’T was nigh unto Pigwacket, on the eighth day of May, 
They spied a rebel Indian soon after break of day ; 

He on a bank was walking, upon a neck of land 
Which leads into a pond, as we ’re given to understand.” 

The ballad was long. As the girls neared 
the closing verses they were surprised to hear 
their father’s fine voice joining theirs : 


166 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

‘ ‘ Our worthy Captain Lovewell among them there did die, 
•They killed Lieutenant Robbins, and wounded good 
young Frye, 

Who was our English chaplain ; he many Indians slew. 
And some of them he scalped while bullets round him 
flew.’^ 

Why, father, how did you know the ballad ? ” 
asked the girls, when they had finished. 

‘^My Aunt Jerusha used to sing it down at 
Colchester. I ’m glad you girls have learned it. 
You sing very well, I must say.” 

Lucinda sings at meeting now, father,” said 
Eunice, and I mean to when I ’m a little 
older.” 

All in good time, daughter,” said the major. 
But we are sitting up late for farmers, who 
must rise with the sun. We will have our 
prayers now, and then to bed.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


STAKTLING NEWS. 

T he next day was to bring tidings of which 
Major Wells and family little dreamed as 
they went peacefully to bed that night of April 
nineteenth ; tidings destined to bring great 
changes, not only to the nation, but also into 
their family circle. 

It was a lovely April day. The major and 
his sons had been improving it by hard work, 
ploughing and planting. Supper time had come. 
The boys were out at the back door, washing 
faces and hands in a pewter basin standing on a 
bench. Near by was a piggin of soft soap, and 
the pail of water which Noah had just brought 
up from the spring, with its gourd dipper. This 
outdoor washing-place saved much work in the 
house ; and the men, soiled from their labors in 
the fields and woods, were free here to spatter 
and splash all they wished. 

Suddenly the boys heard the distant sound of 
a horse’s hoofs, galloping rapidly. 

Who can that be ? ” asked David. 


168 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

He rides as if in hot haste, whoever he be,” 
said Noah. 

Here Israel called : 

It is Benjamin Nash, and he is spurring his 
horse up the hill. I never saw him ride like 
that before.” 

Nash dashed up to the door, reined in his 
panting steed, and asked : 

Where is Major Wells ? ” 

Major Wells hurried out. 

The war has begun, Major,” cried Nash. 

The British fired on our militia at Lexington 
yesterday.” 

Is this true ? ” asked the major. How did 
you hear ? ” 

I was in Deerfield when an express rode in 
with the news. Town meeting was just over, 
and the men had come out of the schoolhouse 
upon the common, when a furious galloping was 
heard, and a man rode into their midst, covered 
with dust, his horse all lather and foam, ready 
to drop. As all stood astounded, he shouted : 
‘ Gage has fired upon the people ! Minute-men 
to the rescue ! Now is the time ; Cambridge 
the place ! ’ 

“ His horse could go no farther. I took the 
news to Greenfield, and agreed to notify Shel- 


STARTLING NEWS. 


169 


biirne and send word to the towns beyond. Men 
were sent riding off in hot haste from Deerfield 
in every direction.” 

Father/’ said Noah, I must start at once. 
I ’m a minuteman in Cousin ’Grip’s company. I 
must off.” 

Noah started for the house to get his gun, 
about to hasten to Greenfield. He had forgot- 
ten that he was tired after his long day’s work ; 
he had but one thought — the hour had come, 
and he must go. 

Wait, Noah ; hold on ! ” cried Nash. Captain 
’Grip and his men are off already, I suppose.” 

What do you mean ? ” asked Noah, incred- 
ulous. 

^^What I say. You know Captain ’Grip is 
not one to let the grass grow under his feet. 
He rallied all the men he could get hold of in a 
hurry, and they ’re probably off now. I under- 
stood these men go for ten days only, to meet 
this emergency, and the rest of the regular 
minutemen will be called out later.” 

The Wellses urged Nash to stop to supper, 
and give his horse a rest ; but he refused, too 
excited to eat. 

No,” he said, I must on at once to carry 
the news to our town folks.” 


l70 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

And away rode Nash, up the hill and on, as 
many a man was riding that night, through the 
length and breadth of the province, and on and 
on into the colonies beyond, bearing word that 
the British had at last fired the fateful shot 
heard round the world.” 

The Wells family had little appetite for sup- 
per ; in truth, they knew not what they ate, as 
they discussed this tidings in all its bearings. 
Noah felt greatly chagrined and disappointed. 

“A pretty minuteman I am,” he said, ^^not 
to start when the call comes.” 

You must not blame yourself, my boy,” 
said his father. You are ready and willing. 
It was not your fault.” 

I shall ride down to Greenfield the first 
thing to-morrow and find out about it,” said 
Noah. 

And I shall go to Deerfield and see Colonel 
Field,” said Major Wells. The Fifth Regi- 
ment may be called out any day.” 

Mrs. Wells, pale and anxious, said little, but 
her heart sank within her. Was this weak 
young country, with no fortresses, no wealth, 
no navy, no army save its half-trained militia, 
to wage war with powerful Great Britain? And 
must she let son and husband go ? Inwardly 


STARTLING NEWS. 171 

she cried to God for strength that she might 
do her duty. 

When Noah rode into Greenfield the next 
morning, he found the town all excitement. 
Captain Agrippa Wells had hastily gathered a 
band of fifty men from Greenfield and Bernard- 
ston, and marched ofi for Cambridge during the 
night. 

But don’t worry, Noah,’’ said Colonel Sam- 
uel Wells, at whose house Noah had stopped to 
make inquiries. Your chance will come in a 
few days. When the ten days are up, the reg- 
ular minutemen are to take their places. The 
point now was to get there, right away. Cousin 
Agrippa would n’t wait a minute for anything. 
Elijah Mitchell, who lives a mile out of the vil- 
lage, went out home on foot, and returned with 
his gun and blanket, ready to march, in fifteen 
minutes from the time he started. My boys 
could hardly wait for me to say yes, and for 
their mother to hunt up blankets and provi- 
sions for them, before they were off.” 

Your boys ? ” asked Noah. 

Yes, John and Daniel have both gone. 
Daniel is only seventeen. But there was no 
holding the boy.” 

When Noah rode home and reported that 


172 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SE VENT Y-SE YEN. 

John and young Daniel Wells and Moses Arms 
had all marched off to Cambridge in Captain 
Agrippa Wells’s company the previous night, 
the knowledge of the meaning of war came 
home to all as never before. Mary and 
Patience tried to conceal their feelings. They 
went quietly about their work, as usual, but the 
old jests and merry laugh were more rarely 
heard. 

When Major Wells arrived home from Deer- 
field, he too brought plenty of exciting news. 

The whole country is up in arms,” he said. 

Gage will find he stirred up a hornet’s nest in 
good earnest when he sent his soldiers out to 
Concord and Lexington to seize our stores, and 
when they fired upon our people on Lexington 
common.” 

Has any one gone from Deerfield ? ” asked 
David. 

^‘A company of fifty or more, mostly Deer- 
field men, marched off at once under Captain 
Locke. The alarm reached Northfield about 
noon yesterday. Elihu Lyman beat the long 
roll on his drum, twenty-five or more men 
made ready in short order, and marched off 
east through Warwick, where the Warwick 
minutemen fell into the ranks. About twenty- 


STARTLING NEWS. 


173 


five men went from Warwick, and all the 
soldiers from this section are to be in the regi- 
ment of Colonel Samuel Williams of Warwick. 
Pretty good showing for a small town like 
Warwick.’’ 

Charlemont and Coleraine have sent men,” 
said Noah. ^^John and Samuel Fellows were 
over to see us to-day. They think it a shame 
that the minutemen from Shelburne belonging 
to Captain ’Grip’s company were not notified 
in season to get off.” 

Their time will come soon,” said Major 
Wells. 

John Fellows said that forty-four men went 
from Coleraine and that section, under Captain 
Hugh McClellan,” said Noah. The men were 
hurriedly summoned, and slept that night on the 
floor in the houses of Captain McClellan, Deacon 
McGee, and Deacon Harroun, — that is, when 
they were not moulding bullets and preparing 
to go. The Coleraine women spent the night 
frying doughnuts for their rations, and the com- 
pany were off in the early morning.” 

Lieutenant Hugh Maxwell led a company 
of men from Charlemont and Myrifield,” said 
David. Tertius and Othniel Taylor have gone 
from Charlemont.” 


174 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

So they Ve gone even from little Myri- 
field,” said Major Wells. 

Yes,” said David, about every man in 
town able to shoulder a gun has gone, so John 
said.” 

When the British Parliament and King 
George thought that the Americans were cow- 
ards, that they would not fight, they little knew 
the spirit of our people,” said Major Wells. 

They said five thousand British troops could 
whip fifteen thousand Americans ! ” 

“ And one British officer said ^ Two thousand 
men will be enough to clear America of these 
rebels,’ ” added David. 

Let them try it,” said Noah. We ’ll show 
them ! ” 

Myrifield was a new and small settlement, 
started only fifteen years previous, in 1760, by 
Rev. Cornelius Jones, up in the Hoosac Moun- 
tains, around old Fort Pelham. When from 
such a town nearly all the men took up arms, 
the signs were indeed ominous for Great 
Britain. 

From scores of little towns in New England, 
towns so insignificant that King George never 
heard of them, and if he had, would have con- 
sidered them of too trifling consequence to be 


STARTLING NEWS. 


175 


worth a moment’s thought, men sternly re- 
solved to fight to the end for their country’s 
freedom were streaming towards Cambridge. 
These men started without rations, or tents, or 
any provision for their needs. As they marched, 
they slept at night, sometimes on the floors of 
barns and houses, hospitably opened to receive 
the country's defenders, sometimes under hastily 
constructed brush shelters.^ 

On April twenty-fourth Coleraine voted ^Ho 
send a waggon load of provisions to our men 
at Boston who have gone to the defence of 
their country,” and a collection of blankets 
was also made in town to send to the soldiers. 
Bernardston and other towns provided for their 
men in like fashion. 

The work on the Wellses’ farm was necessa- 
rily left largely to the sons, for Major Wells was 
much away on outside business. At the town 
meeting held April twenty-seventh, he was 
elected chairman of the committee of corre- 
spondence, to carry out the directions of the 
Continental and Provincial Congress.”^ Be- 
tween the duties of this office and those of 
recruiting for his regiment he was indeed busy. 

Ten days can pass away very swiftly. Before 

1 Appendix E. ^ Appendix F. 


176 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

any one could believe it, the first of May had 
come, and Noah must be off to join Captain 
Agrippa Wells’s company, which was camping 
at Cambridge, aiding in the siege of the British 
troops shut up in Boston, who were penned 
in by thousands of volunteer militia camped 
around the city. 

x^bout half of the men who had left so hastily 
with Captain Agrippa at the first alarm were 
obliged to return home, and the other minute- 
men were summoned to fill the ranks. 

Such a heavenly day as dawned this first day 
of May ! Every tree had burst out in a miracle 
of tiny green leaves, the air was fragrant with 
all the odors of spring, the birds sang rap- 
turously, and all the Shelburne brooks were 
brimful of clear brown water, dashing down 
over the rocks in foaming white cascades. The 
little new ferns were uncurling their spirals, 
white bloodroot blossoms starred the grass, and 
among the rocks in the woods many wild flow- 
ers raised their spires. 

The whole world was so beautiful, so instinct 
with freshness and newness of life, — and Noah 
was starting off for the war ! 

Noah himself was too excited to eat much 
breakfast. He listened respectfully to the last 


STARTLING NEWS. 


177 


words of advice which his father and mother, 
with anxious faces, were giving him, cautions 
about the care of his health, directions what 
to do in emergencies that might arise. 

I know, my son,” said his father, “ I need 
not charge you to do your duty manfully 
wherever you are placed, however hard it 
may be.” 

No, father,” said Noah. I mean to do my 
best for my country, no matter what happens.” 

But don’t run any unnecessary risks, Noah,” 
said his mother. Don’t do anything rash. 
Take good care of yourself.” 

I will, mother, only I must obey orders, at 
all hazards.” 

William and Walter hung around Noah, 
fingering his powder-horn, wishing they too 
were going to war. 

You ’ll have to step in and fill my place 
now, Israel,” said Noah. 

^^I’ll see about it,” said Israel, making a 
poor attempt to laugh. 

The girls were pale and excited, but trying 
to joke, and to send Noah off bravely, with 
smiling faces. 

Now appeared a number of the Shelburne 
minutemen, who were, like Noah, to join Cap- 
12 


178 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

tain Wells’s company at Cambridge. Major 
and Mrs. Wells were pleased that Noah was 
to have the company of these neighbors and 
friends on his long march to Cambridge. 

Well, I suppose I must start,” said Noah, 
as he threw over his shoulder his roll, contain- 
ing the warm blanket his mother had selected 
for him from her store, and the bag of dough- 
nuts the girls had fried for him to serve as 
rations along the way, and fastened on the 
pouch of bullets which he and David had 
moulded. 

Good-by, every one,” he said, as he 
shouldered his musket. 

His slender, erect form, his bright, expres- 
sive face, his eyes shining with excitement and 
emotion, had never looked so beautiful in the 
eyes of his parents as now. 

Good-by, Noah, good-by,” cried all after 
him as he set off. 

^^God be with you and keep you, my son,” 
said the father, as he pressed the boy’s hand 
at parting. The mother could not trust herself 
to speak as she tenderly kissed her boy. 

The family stood outside the front door, 
watching the young men depart. At the last 
bend in the road Noah turned with a smile, 


STARTLING NEWS. 179 

waved his hat to the group by the familiar 
doorstep, and then disappeared from sight. 

Mrs. Wells hurriedly took refuge in her 
bedroom, to conceal the tears that would flow. 
The girls, with obstinate lumps in their throats 
that somehow would not down, resumed their 
work. Tears stood in the major’s eyes as he 
said : 

Well, David, Israel, we must to our plough- 
ing. Work will not stand still, even for war.” 

The sun shone as brightly, the birds sang as 
sweetly as before, but Eunice voiced the general 
feeling when she said : 

How queer it seems since Noah has gone 1 
Everything seems different, somehow. The 
house feels so empty.” 


CHAPTER XVL 

A LOSS. 

T he morning of May sixth Mrs. Wells sent 
Eunice on an errand to a neighbor who 
lived over in the south part of the town. 
William and Walter were sent with her, partly 
as company, partly to keep the little boys out 
of mischief. 

When the children returned about noon, 
Mrs. Wells asked : 

What did Mrs. Taylor say ? Can she and 
the girls come to our quilting next week?’' 

“ Oh, mother,” burst out Eunice, too excited 
to answer properly, ^^what do you suppose we 
saw ? We met an officer on horseback ! ” 
^^And he spoke to us and threw us some 
pennies,” said William, diving into his pocket 
and bringing up several pennies. 

I got a penny, too,” said Walter, showing a 
penny clutched close in his warm, fat little fist. 
Well, that was wonderful,” said the mother. 
Where did you meet the officer ? ” 



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A LOSS. 


181 


Just as we came out of our road into the 
Albany road we saw this general riding up 
from Deerfield, with a man riding behind him/’ 
said Eunice. ^^The general wore a blue uni- 
form trimmed with gold, and plumes in his hat, 
and sat up very straight, and had bright, quick 
eyes.” 

“Did you children remember to make your 
manners ? ” asked the mother. 

“ You may be sure we did not forget to do * 
that, mother. We drew up beside the road, 
and I made a real deep courtesy, and William 
and Walter took off their caps and bowed low. 
The general looked pleased, and said : ^ That ’s 
a little lady.’ ‘ Here, my little gentlemen ’ — ” 

“ And then he threw out a whole handful of 
pennies to us,” said William. “ I said ^ Thank 
you, sir,’ but Walter forgot.” 

“ I was busy trying to pick up pennies,” said 
Walter. 

“ He asked which of these roads led to 
Charlemont,” continued Eunice. “ I showed 
him, and he whipped up his horse and galloped 
away. We told Mrs. Taylor about him, but she 
could n’t think who he could be. She said that 
she and the girls will be very happy to come to 
the quilting.” 


182 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Now that so many blankets were likely to be 
demanded for army use, Mrs. Wells felt it pru- 
dent to increase her stock of bedquilts. She and 
the girls, even including Eunice, who had to do 
her stint ” of sewing as well as knitting daily, 
had pieced a quilt of the Kising Sun pattern, 
which the neighbors would help quilt, enjoying 
at the same time a pleasant visit, followed by a 
good supper. 

‘^Who do you think this officer could be?’' 
asked Mrs. Wells of her husband. 

I know nothing to call an army officer into 
this vicinity, unless it be — ” here Major Wells 
paused as if struck by an idea not prudent to 
mention. 

The next day was Sunday. As the Wells 
family rode up meeting-house hill, they saw 
before the meeting-house a group of men gath- 
ered around John Taylor, listening eagerly to 
something he was telling. 

In these war times all were anxious for news, 
and Major Wells and the boys hastened to join 
the group around Mr. Taylor, who was saying : 

When we rode into the Albany road this 
morning on our way to church, imagine our 
surprise at running into a drift of fourteen or 
more cattle. They were driven by Thomas 


A LOSS. 183 

Dickinson of Deerfield, and his young brother 
Consider. 

Halloo, Dickinson,’’ said I, “ is n’t this a vio- 
lation of the Lord’s Day ? How happens it that 
you, of all men, are breaking the Sabbath ? ” 

‘‘ ^ In war times, everything must give way 
to necessity,’ said Dickinson, and then he told 
me that Saturday morning people in Deerfield 
street were excited by seeing an officer, in a 
shining new uniform, with gold lace and epaul- 
ettes and waving plumes, dashing into the 
street, with a man servant riding behind him. 
He stopped at Major Salah Barnard’s tavern, 
and sent for Dickinson.” 

Who was the officer ? ” asked some impa- 
tient hearers. 

was Colonel Benedict Arnold, that daring 
Connecticut officer. He had just come from our 
Provincial Congress at Watertown, and brought 
Dickinson a commission from the Committee of 
Safety as Assistant Commissary. Then he ordered 
Dickinson to procure forthwith fifteen thousand 
pounds of beef for an expedition now on foot.” 

What expedition ? ” 

Colonel Arnold did not say. He was very 
secret about it. But Dickinson thinks an at- 
tempt is to be made to take Fort Ticonderoga. 


184 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

At any rate, Dickinson let no grass grow under 
his feet. He has bought these oxen, and is now 
driving them on, through Charlemont, over the 
Hoosacs by the Cold River trail, towards Fort 
Ti.” 

So it was Benedict Arnold the Wells children 
had encountered the previous day, as he rode 
through Shelburne to the west. 

The Shelburne folk were so stirred by Taylor’s 
news that it is to be feared they had some diffi- 
culty in keeping their minds on Rev. Mr. Hub- 
bard’s discourse that morning. All longed to 
hear the result of the attempt to be made on Fort 
Ticonderoga. But nothing further was heard 
for several days. 

A week or more had passed, when Mr. Dick- 
inson and his brother returned home, distributing 
along the way the glorious news of the surrender 
of Fort Ticonderoga to Arnold and Ethan Allen, 

in the name of the Great Jehovah and the 
Continental Congress.” 

Great was the rejoicing of the people, and the 
added confidence in their own powers given by 
this victory. The people of New England and 
New York realized that to hold command of 
Lake Champlain was their strongest safeguard 
against a possible invasion of Canadians and 


A LOSS. 185 

Indians from the North such as the British 
threatened. 

“Fort Ticonderoga, which had cost England 
eight million pounds, was won in ten minutes 
by a few undisciplined volunteers/' With the 
fortress the Americans likewise captured fifty 
prisoners, who were sent to Connecticut with 
the men from that province, and also, what was 
of prime importance to the slenderly equipped 
American forces, they had taken one hundred 
cannon, a thirteen-inch mortar, and a Ikrge 
quantity of the other military stores so greatly 
needed by their armies. 

News soon came that Crown Point had sur- 
rendered to a detachment under Seth Warner, 
and that another party had captured both Major 
Skene, a virulent Tory, and Skenesboro/ Well 
might the Americans be elated at the results of 
their first offensive movements. 

On May twenty-third the Shelburne town 
meeting voted that Deacon Samuel Fellows 
and Major David Wells be representatives to 
attend the Congress, and John Burdick a com- 
mittee of correspondence to assist them. But 
Major Wells did not go down to Watertown 
at this time, and his colleague served instead. 


1 Now White Hall. 


186 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

The absence of Noah added much to the 
duties at home. All missed the absent boy, and 
longed to know how it fared with him. 

If we could only hear from Noah, and know 
how he is, and how situated, I should feel better 
about him,” said Mrs. Wells more than once as 
the days, and then the weeks, went by with no 
word, until the end of May drew nigh. 

Perhaps he will have a chance to send us a 
letter ere long,” said her husband. ^^It would 
certainly be a great comfort to hear from him.” 

“I know Noah will write if he can send a 
letter,” said Patience. ‘‘ It seems a year instead 
of three weeks since he left.” 

It was fortunate that the loving friends at 
home could not see how it fared with the absent 
one. Following the attack on Lexington and 
Concord, thousands of men from all parts of 
New England had poured into the vicinity of 
Boston, and were camped for ten miles encircling 
the city. They came hurriedly, almost destitute 
of equipments, from farm and shop. The Pro- 
vincial Congress suddenly found itself with a war 
on its hands, but as yet possessing small means 
and few preparations. The home friends and 
the patriotic people in the province managed to 
keep the soldiers fairly well supplied with food. 


A LOSS. 


187 


But of tents there was a sad dearth. The 
soldiers were forced to improvise shelters for 
themselves as best they could. 

Rev. William Emerson of Concord, who vis- 
ited the camp at this time, wrote of these shel- 
ters : Some are made of boards, and some of 
sail cloth; some partly of one, partly of the 
other. Again others are made of stone and 
turf, brick and brush.’’ 

It was not strange that a camp fever raged 
among the soldiers, many of them but boys, 
torn from home comforts, and subjected to such 
hard conditions. 

Early in June, Major Wells had to ride to 
Deerfield. His wife’s last words were : 

‘‘I do hope you will bring us some news of 
Noah ; if not a letter from him, yet perhaps 
some one in Deerfield may have heard from the 
company. It seems as if I must hear from 
him.” 

I trust we shall hear soon, perhaps to-day,” 
said the major, as he rode away. 

Mrs. Wells and the girls, though busy with 
their work, yet kept a sharp watch on the 
road to catch the first glimpse of the returning 
major. At last they saw him coming in the 
distance. 


188 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

But how slowly father rides 1 ” said Mary. 
^^And David and Israel have left their work, 
and are walking along with him, one each side 
his horse. They are talking very earnestly.’’ 

I pray there is no bad news from the army,” 
said Mrs. Wells, turning pale, her mother’s 
heart filled with anxiety. 

As her husband rode nearer the door, she saw 
that he was trying to suppress deep emotion. 
Grief was written on his face, and on David’s 
and Israel’s. All looked at their mother as if 
dreading to speak. 

‘^Oh, what is it, David?” cried Mrs. Wells, 
while the girls pressed silently around, anxiously 
awaiting their father’s words. 

Major Wells dismounted, and taking his wife’s 
hand, led her into the house. 

^^Mary,” he said tenderly, our boy is no 
more. The Lord gave him, the Lord hath 
taken him away. In the dew of his youth he 
has laid down his life for his country. Let us 
try not to sorrow for ourselves too greatly, but 
rather rejoice for him, who has entered so early 
into peace.” 

At Deerfield Major Wells had found a letter 
awaiting him from Captain Agrippa Wells stat- 
ing that his son Noah had died in camp at 


A LOSS. 


189 


Cambridge, May thirty-first, at eight o’clock, 
that he was buried with regimental honors, and 
that his expressions at the last, when he was 
conscious that death was near, showed a deep 
and unshaken trust in God. He had died from 
camp fever, induced by the privations and hard- 
ships to which all the enlisted men were ex- 
posed, laying down his life for his country as 
truly as if he had died in battle. 

His body lay in some unknown and unmarked 
grave in Cambridge. His death was the first 
break in the large family circle. Now, in place 
of the living presence, there was a sacred mem- 
ory, a deep, tender, undying love in the heart, 
deeper and more living than can be felt for an 
earthly friend. Heaven was no longer a strange 
land, since one of their number had already 
entered there. When their own time came, 
it would be but going home to the dear one 
awaiting them. 


CHAPTER XVIL 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 

M oses arms returned from Boston when 
the term of his enlistment expired, going 
out again later for another period of service. 
He often rode out to Shelburne, and the Wellses 
were glad to learn from this friend, who was 
with him to the end, the details of Noah’s last 
days. His visits cheered Patience, who, natur- 
ally delicate, had drooped perceptibly since the 
death of her favorite brother, Noah. The sum- 
mer had not far advanced when Moses and 
Patience became engaged, the parents feeling 
young Arms to be one on whom they could 
safely bestow their daughter. 

The Wellses began their haying in June. On 
June seventeenth they were working in a large 
field on a sloping hillside lying some distance 
southeast of the house. It was a very warm 
day, the first really hot day of the summer. 

About two o’clock the sun’s rays beat down 
on the hillside with intolerable heat. Major 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


191 


Wells and David paid no attention to the heat, 
their scythes swinging steadily on as they swept 
back and forth across the field, side by side, 
laying down long rows of the tall grass. Now 
and then they stopped to wipe their dripping 
brows and whet their scythes. 

Israel and William were helping, by following 
along after the mowers and tossing out the hay 
to dry. The boys zeal gradually waned under 
the sun’s heat, and they felt obliged to take 
frequent trips to the spot where a jug of cooling 
drink, compounded by their mother of vinegar, 
molasses, ginger, and water, rested in a spring 
gushing out of the hillside. 

As Major Wells stopped to whet his scythe, 
he noticed that both Israel and William had 
abandoned work, and were lying down in the 
shade of a tree near the spring. It was cer- 
tainly much pleasanter lying thus under the 
shade of the tree, with the wide view of the 
Connecticut Valley spread out below like a fair 
picture, than to be tossing hay in the hot 
sun, and William had succumbed to Israel’s 
example, and decided also to ^^take a rest.” 

^^Boys, what does this mean?” asked the 
major, with a note of military command in his 
voice. 


192 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

SO hot, father/’ said Israel, plaintively. 

^‘Hot! Well, what of it ? A man must not 
stop for the weather. Up and to work, boys. 
I fear you have yet to learn the truth of 
Franklin’s proverb, ^ Drive thy work, or thy 
work will drive thee.’ If this hay is spread 
right out under this hot sun, it will soon be 
dry enough to go into the barn.” 

^^It couldn’t be better haying weather,” said 
David. 

Israel slowly pulled himself up. But here 
William exclaimed : 

Father, I hear something ! A strange boom, 
boom noise in the ground.” 

Israel now lay down with his ear on the 
earth, and said : 

Father, it is really so. I hear it, too.” 

Major Wells and David now lay down and 
listened. There was no mistaking that far- 
away booming jar in the earth. 

‘^It is heavy cannonading we hear,” said 
Major Wells. There is a great battle going 
on somewhere to the east. We shall soon hear 
of heavy fighting Boston way.” 

All forgot the heat now in the excitement of 
knowing that somewhere a big battle was being 
fought, and worked rapidly, even the boys. 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


193 


lately so exhausted, tossing the hay about as if 
their pitchforks had been bayonets and every 
wisp of hay a British grenadier. 

It was hard to wait for tidings, and many 
were the speculations and discussions as to the 
probable battle. But the second day after the 
Wellses had heard the noise of distant cannon, 
a courier rode into Deerfield with intelligence 
of the Battle of Bunker Hill, news quickly car- 
ried to the adjoining towns. The news greatly 
stirred the people of Northern Hampshire, where 
many of the participants were well known. 

Captain Hugh Maxwell's company from 
Charlemont, and Captain Joseph Stebbins’s 
company from Deerfield, were in the thickest 
of the fight under Prescott. Captain Maxwell 
received a ball through his right shoulder. 
Both companies worked all night helping to 
throw up the redoubt on Bunker Hill, and 
were in the heaviest of the fighting around it 
the next day. The first man killed in the bat- 
tle was Aaron Barr, from the little mountain 
settlement of Myrifield. His leg was taken off 
by a cannon ball, and he died soon after being 
carried from the field. 

Timothy Catlin of Deerfield, in Captain Joseph 
Stebbins’s company, was near Warren when he 

13 


194 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

was slain and saw him fall. Gatlin himself was 
wounded in the face, and bore an honorable, if 
disfiguring, scar to his death. 

The gallant veteran, Seth Pomeroy of North- 
ampton, who showed such patriotic pluck on the 
occasion, retiring from the field backward, stub- 
bornly contesting every inch of ground, fight- 
ing to the last, was well known to Major Wells 
and other Shelburne men. 

All bitterly lamented the great loss to the 
American cause in the death of Joseph Warren, 
who had been, with Samuel Adams and John 
Hancock, a leader of the province in the re- 
sistance to British tyranny. 

Although the Americans had at last been 
driven from the hill, it was only with terrible 
loss to the British army, over a thousand of 
whom had been killed or wounded, ninety 
of their officers wounded, and thirteen slain. 
And this by undisciplined men, fresh from their 
farms and shops, undrilled, short of ammuni- 
tion, of everything indeed except native cour- 
age and loyalty to liberty. 

I wonder what General Burgoyne thinks 
now ? said Major Wells, when he heard the 
details of the Battle of Bunker Hill. ^^Last 
month, when he sailed into Boston with his 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


195 


troops, he could hardly find words to express 
his scorn at finding Gage's army penned in by 
our American boys. 

^ What/ he said, ^ ten thousand peasants 
keep five thousand king’s troops shut up ? 
Well, let us get in, and we ’ll soon find elbow 
room.’ He and the other British officers have 
at least discovered one fact, — that Americans 
can and will fight.” 

^^I’m afraid Burgoyne bruised his elbows a 
little at Bunker Hill,” said Mary. 

I wonder if the British will be as fond now 
of that tune, ^Yankee Doodle Dandy,’ which 
they have played to insult us,” said Patience. 

^^The Yankees may teach them to play an- 
other tune before they are done with them,” said 
Major Wells. 

In July, Major Wells was again called from 
home. He went as representative from Shel- 
burne to the Provincial Congress at Watertown, 
July nineteenth. In June word reached New 
England that the Continental Congress had 
taken under its charge the miscellaneous body 
of men from different colonies collected around 
Boston, who were now for the first time called 
The Continental Army ” ; that it had voted to 
borrow six thousand pounds to be used in pur- 


196 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

chasing gunpowder for that army, which at 
present was rendered helpless by having al- 
most none, having sent for it in vain all over 
New England and New York, and even farther 
south ; and, above all, that a certain noted Vir- 
ginia officer, one George Washington, had been 
appointed by the Congress to take command of 
the army. 

Major Wells was glad of the public duty 
calling him to Watertown, giving him an op- 
portunity, as it would, to see for himself the 
condition of the army besieging Boston, and 
perhaps learn something of the character of 
the new commander-in-chief. 

Washington had set out for Boston from 
Philadelphia on horseback June twenty-first, es- 
corted by Major Generals Schuyler and Lee, and 
a ^^gentleman troop’’ from Philadelphia. Hardly 
had they gone twenty miles when they met a 
courier riding post haste to carry from the army 
around Boston to Congress, then in session at 
Philadelphia, the news of the Battle of Bunker 
Hill. 

Washington had many eager inquiries to make, 
especially as to the conduct of the militia. 

“They stood their ground without flinching, 
under a hot fire from the British troops and 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


197 


ships/’ replied the courier. ^^They held their 
own fire until the enemy were at close quar- 
ters, and then delivered it with terrible effect. 
The British were slain thirteen to one of our 
men. Our men are sharpshooters and aim well. 
They fought bravely to the very end.” 

A great weight seemed lifted from Wash- 
ington’s heart at this news. 

Then the liberties of the country are safe,” 
he said. 

The whole country had been electrified by the 
news of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and as the 
brilliant company escorting the new commander- 
in-chief galloped on through towns and villages 
along his route, everywhere the people were on 
the alert to catch if possible a glimpse of Gen- 
eral Washington as he rode through. 

Washington reached New York City June 
twenty-fifth, leaving the next day. The Pro- 
vincial Congress of Massachusetts, which had 
provided suitable quarters at Cambridge as a 
residence for the new commander, sent an escort 
to meet him at Springfield. Volunteer compa- 
nies and cavalcades of gentlemen also joined 
his company, and escorted him along his way. 
Thus honorably attended, Washington reached 
Cambridge July twenty-second. The following 


198 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

day he took command of the army, drawn up 
on Cambridge Common. 

Captain Agrippa Wells and his company were 
still in the army encamped around Boston. 

I suppose you will see Cousin ’Grip, father,” 
said David. 

Yes, I shall certainly look up Cousin Agrippa, 
and the boys we know in his company, at the 
first opportunity, to learn how it fares with 
them,” said the major. 

The Skinners, Ransoms, Fellowses, Kelloggs, 
Allens, Hales, Kemps, and other Shelburne fam- 
ilies who had sons or relatives in the army 
eagerly embraced this rare opportunity of send- 
ing letters to their absent friends by Major 
Wells, as well as some small gifts. 

Mary Wells had been knitting two mysteri- 
ous pairs of socks, of stout blue yarn, spun by 
herself. 

David, and your father too, have plenty of 
socks on hand for the present, Mary,” said her 
mother one day, observing Mary’s industry. 

You had better knit some stockings for Wil- 
liam and Walter. They go through theirs faster 
than I can keep up with them, in spite of all my 
darning.” 

These are not for father or David,” said 


AMERICAKS CAN FIGHT. 199 

Mary, with a blush, and her wise mother said 
no more. 

Mary’s fingers were never idle. They flew 
every evening, every leisure hour of the day. 
Who can tell how many loving wishes and ten- 
der prayers were knit into the blue socks by 
the gentle hands? 

The night before the major was to set out for 
Watertown, Mary managed to catch her father 
alone, — a difficult matter in so large a family, 
— and, producing a small bundle and a letter, 
asked, with many blushes : 

Father, could you take these to John Wells ? 
You will be sure and see him, will you not ? ” 

The major looked smilingly at the pretty, 
blushing face, and said : 

I ’ll manage it somehow, my daughter. My 
saddle-bags are pretty well crammed now with 
letters and budgets for the soldier boys, but I will 
tuck yours into my surtout pocket. And I’ll 
be sure to see John, you may depend.” 

The major also stopped in Greenfield at Mrs. 
Agrippa Wells’s and Colonel Samuel Wells’s, to 
take any letters they might wish to send to 
their friends in the army. 

He had been gone but a few weeks when an- 
other sad event occurred in his family. Again 


200 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

death entered the home circle. The last of Au- 
gust, Patience sickened and died. 

A great gap was left in the family circle by 
the two deaths coming but a few months apart. 
At the urgent wish of young Arms, Patience’s 
body was laid to rest, not in the Shelburne 
burial-ground on meeting-house hill, but in his 
own family lot in Greenfield’s Old Burial 
Ground.” ^ 

On Major Wells’s return from Watertown he 
stopped in Deerfield to leave at Major Salah 
Barnard’s tavern various letters and papers for 
Deerfield people which had been confided to 
his care. 

It was evening when Major Wells reached 
Deerfield, and Colonel David Field, Thomas 
Dickinson and his son David, John Sheldon, and 
others of the prominent Whigs and members of 
the Deerfield Committee of Safety, had gathered 
at Barnard’s inn, as was often their custom of 
an evening, to exchange news and discuss the 
state of the country. 

To this company, the arrival of Major Wells, 
fresh from Congress and the seat of war, was 
indeed a godsend, and they plied him with 
eager inquiries. 


1 Appendix G. 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


201 


First and foremost/’ said Colonel Field, 
did you by good chance happen to see our 
new commander-in-chief, General Washington?” 

I had the happiness of seeing General Wash- 
ington twice,” said Major Wells. The first 
time I visited the camp, he rode past, escorted 
by several officers. He is a man of most com- 
manding appearance, tall, noble, and majestic. 
His face at once inspires confidence. Its ex- 
pression is kind and agreeable, yet he wears a 
dignity with which no one would presume to 
trifle. He looks born to command. I may 
seem to speak strongly, but I cannot exaggerate 
the favorable expression he made upon me.” 

‘‘ I rejoice to hear such an account of him 
from you,” said Colonel Field. “We are in- 
deed favored of Heaven that the command of 
our army has fallen into such hands. What is 
the condition of things in the army ? ” 

“ Rather bad, I regret to say,” replied Major 
Wells. “ Our troops are strung out for ten 
miles or so in a semicircle surrounding Boston, 
from Winter Hill on the north, to Roxbury and 
Dorchester Neck on the south. The line is but 
thin in places, and not strongly fortified.” 

“ What about the boys from this section ? ” 
asked David Dickinson. 


202 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Like the rest, they are living in all sorts of 
poor shelters put up by themselves, and are 
sometimes short of proper food. It is no wonder 
that there is considerable sickness in camp. And 
there, in the midst, lies Boston, eleven thousand 
trained British soldiers within her limits, with 
ships and floating batteries at their command.’' 

There seems danger that the British may 
see their chance, and sally forth to break through 
our lines, driving our soldiers before them,” 
said John Sheldon. 

‘‘ No one knows why Gage has not yet at- 
tempted it,” said Major Wells. “ But all are 
now inspired with new confidence by the arrival 
of Washington. It is felt that he could bring 
victory even out of defeat. I hear he is a man 
of strong religious faith, relying solely on the 
Divine Goodness wisely to direct him in order- 
ing our affairs. And that I regard as one of 
the best auguries for our cause.” 

You are right,” said Thomas Dickinson. 

I was greatly interested to see the far- 
famed riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
and Virginia,” said Major Wells. 

‘‘ Oh, tell us about them,” said David Dickin- 
son. 

There are fourteen thousand of them in 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 


203 


camp. Morgan’s riflemen marched six hundred 
miles in three weeks to get into camp. They are 
stalwart looking fellows, I can tell you, standing 
six feet high in their fringed hunting shirts.” 

“People say they are wonderful marksmen 
and sharp-shooters,” said John Sheldon. 

“ Cousin Agrippa told me a good story about 
that when I was in camp,” said the major. “ It 
seems that a man who had charge of raising a 
company of riflemen in the frontier counties of 
Pennsylvania had so many applicants he was 
forced to contrive some plan to sift them. So 
he drew with chalk on a board the figure of a 
man’s nose, life-size, and placed it one hundred 
and fifty rods away. Sixty odd men hit the 
nose ! ” 

“ Is it possible ! ” exclaimed every one. 

“ Since then, Agrippa says, it is a common 
saying in camp : ^ General Gage, take care of 
your nose ! ’ ” 

All laughed at this. 

“ I went up on Prospect Hill while in camp,” 
said Major Wells. “ ^ Old Put’ as the boys 
call General Putnam — they worship him — has 
intrenched himself up there with works that 
look impregnable. From Prospect Hill I could 
overlook the whole situation. The view is as 


204 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

extended as that from my farm. There lay 
Bunker Hill but a mile away eastward. It was 
galling, I assure you, to see the British flag 
floating triumphantly from its summit. I could 
see plainly the white British tents, and their 
men in scarlet uniforms walking about. Every- 
thing looked prosperous and successful up there. 
But down at the foot of the hill was a mass of 
blackened chimneys and rubbish heaps, where 
Charlestown once stood.’’ 

A shame, a loss we must avenge,” muttered 
his hearers among themselves, too greatly in- 
terested to interrupt the speaker. 

Howe’s sentries are out on the Neck. Three 
floating batteries are anchored in Mystic Biver, 
and a ship of twenty guns lies inside, between 
Boston and the mainland. The British are 
strongly intrenched on Boston Neck, the only 
land entrance to Boston.” 

It looks as though it would be well-nigh 
impossible for our army to wrench Boston from 
the British clutches,” said David Dickinson. 

The British are strong in everything we lack, 
and they have the inside track.” 

There is more than one way out of a diffi- 
culty,” said Major Wells, and since I have 
seen General Washington, I cannot help feeling 


AMERICANS CAN FIGHT. 205 

confident that he will bring us through, in spite 
of King George and his Hessians.” 

Hessians ? What do you mean ? ” 

The latest news from England is that King 
George has hired of the Duke of Brunswick foiw 
thousand infantry and three hundred dragoons 
to augment his army here. They are to be 
commanded by General Riedesel of the Ducal 
army, an experienced officer. The Hessians are 
said to be highly trained and very effective. 
These hired soldiers are now on their way, to 
enter the field against us.” 

^^That is the worst thing King George has 
done yet,” said Thomas Dickinson emphatically. 

To hire foreigners, who know and care noth- 
ing about the right or wrong of the case, to 
come over here to butcher in cold blood his 
former subjects and fellow countrymen ! ” 
^^This will set our people more firmly than 
ever against him,” said Colonel Field. 

^^So I prophesy,” said Major Wells. was 
told that there is beginning to be great suffer- 
ing for food in Boston.” 

We of Deerfield voted last May to provide 
for thirty-six of the Boston people who could 
not leave the city, and others of our towns are 
taking like action,” said John Sheldon. 


206 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

^^Even the British army are said to be on 
short rations now/’ said Major Wells. “ I may 
tell you, although it is not to be noised abroad, 
that it was being whispered about that an 
expedition to Canada is contemplated soon.” 

There will be a call for more soldiers, 
then,” said Colonel Field. 

No doubt. Our Fifth Hampshire Regiment 
may be ordered out,” said Major Wells. 

We had best have another drill and review 
at once,” said Colonel Field, ^^in order to be 
prepared for instant service.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 

D uring the winter. Captain Agrippa Wells 
was able to come home for a short fur- 
lough. Home comforts seemed blissful indeed 
after the hardships of camp life. But Captain 
Wells was not one to dally long in idleness 
when his country’s interests were at stake, and 
soon returned to camp. The leading Green- 
field Whigs and members of the Committee 
of Safety, Samuel Hinsdale, Captain Timothy 
Childs, Daniel Nash, Thomas Nims, Ebenezer 
Arms, Benjamin Hastings, and Colonel Samuel 
Wells, and the relatives of the boys in camp 
were glad indeed to welcome Captain Agrippa 
home, and to hear his report of the outlook at 
beleaguered Boston. 

Soon after his return. Rev. Roger Newton, 
Greenfield’s minister, called at Captain Wells’s 
to discuss the war prospects. The family were 
at supper. 


208 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Mr. Newton was known to be, like Parson 
Ashley of Deerfield, a Tory sympathizer, 
although, being a man of peace, he was careful 
te say little of his unpopular views. But the 
heart of the valiant captain burned within him 
as they talked, knowing, as he did, where his 
minister stood on the question so near his own 
heart, his country’s rights. 

Presently Mr. Newton asked mildly : 

‘^If your army should succeed in capturing 
the Boston Tories, what do you intend to do 
with them?” 

Do with them ? ” asked the captain, bring- 
ing his clenched fist down on the tea-table with 
an emphasis that set the dishes jingling. Do 
with them ? We intend to hang the devils.” 

Mr. Newton said little more, and soon 
departed. 

“Agrippa,” remonstrated his wife, ^^you 
spoke rather rudely, not to say profanely, to 
Parson Newton.” 

I can’t help it. It makes my blood boil to 
see men like him upholding the cause of 
tyranny and oppression. I could have said a 
good deal more.” 

I am heartily glad you restrained yourself,” 
said his wife. 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULT. 209 

While at home, Captain Wells happened to 
call at a neighbor’s in the west part of the 
town, where he was asked to join in a cup of 
tea. 

^^No,” said the captain, looking with undis- 
guised horror on the fragrant amber fluid. I 
would sooner drink my children’s heart-blood.” 

It was during the captain’s furlough that 
Parson Newton exchanged pulpits with Parson 
Ashley of Deerfield, perhaps thinking that Mr. 
Ashley^s bolder utterance of what Mr. Newton 
believed to be needed home truths might open 
his people’s eyes to the error of their ways. At 
all events, Mr. Ashley improved the occasion to 
air his political views, saying, among other dis- 
tasteful things, that the souls of those rebels 
against the king who fell at Bunker Hill had 
undoubtedly gone to the lower regions. 

The only meeting-house in Greenfield was on 
Trap Plain, located there when the town had 
been set off from Deerfield because this was 
then the town’s centre. But the village had 
persisted in growing up a mile or more south 
of the common. Most of the people, therefore, 
brought luncheons with them, and remained at 
the meeting-house for the short intermission 
between services. 


14 


210 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

During the nooning following Parson Ashley’s 
discourse there was much excited feeling and 
hot discussion among the men. 

What are we going to do about it ? ’’ asked 
Thomas Nims. 

Head the traitor off. Don’t suffer him to 
preach again,” said Captain Agrippa, strength, 
ening his remarks by an oath or two. 

This advice coincided so well with the 
people’s inclinations that it was at once ac- 
cepted, and a committee of three — Samuel 
Hinsdale, David Smead, and Daniel Nash — 
was appointed to enforce their resolve. 

Samuel Hinsdale had formerly lived near 
Parson Ashley in Deerfield, and had a personal 
dislike for him, as well as for his political 
views. Hinsdale stationed himself near the 
entrance door as the hour of afternoon service 
drew nigh, the others of the committee being 
with him. 

When Parson Ashley, stately and dignified, 
appeared, and attempted to enter the meeting- 
house, Hinsdale jostled him back, not permit- 
ting him to enter. This was repeated, when 
Mr. Ashley asked haughtily : 

“ Why this unseemly conduct ? Remember it 
is said, ^ You shall not rebuke an elder.’ ” 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 211 

An elder ! retorted Hinsdale. If you 
had not said you were an elder, I should have 
thought you were a poison sumach ! 

There was no afternoon service that day, Mr. 
Ashley shaking the dust from his feet and 
departing for Deerfield. 

Feeling ran high in Deerfield. In Decern oer, 
action was taken against Nathaniel Dickinson, 
an active Tory living at Mill Kiver. His farm 
was seized and leased to another, and all his 
livestock and other personal belongings were 
sold at auction, the amount realized, over two 
hundred pounds, being paid into the treasury of 
the province. Dickinson fled to Canada, there 
to spend the remnant of his days. 

The year 1775 closed sadly for the Ameri- 
cans. Boston was still in a state of siege. The 
attempt on Canada (to which a company from 
Northfield led by Captain Thomas Alexander 
had gone) under Montgomery and Arnold had 
ended in disaster. The Americans had been 
repulsed, Montgomery slain, Arnold wounded, 
and Ethan Allen, previously captured, had been 
subjected to indignities that aroused the indig- 
nation of Washington. 

On February 17, 1776, during these dark and 
anxious days, great interest and curiosity was 


212 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

excited in the Wells family by the return of 
David from Deerfield, bringing a large sealed 
public document addressed to his father. 

wonder what it can be,” said Mary, as 
Major Wells proceeded to open the document 
with the deliberation due to its dignity and 
his own. 

wish father would hurry,” said Lucinda, 
eager to know the contents. 

Whatever it is, I hope it does not bring any 
more business for you to attend to, David,” said 
his wife. 

Major Wells was often called from home, not 
only by his military duties and those as repre- 
sentative, but, as a public man, he was also in- 
trusted with various commissions by his fellow 
townsmen. Late in the autumn he had carried 
on quite a transaction in salt. No salt was 
made in this country. All must be imported 
from the West Indies. British cruisers often 
seized Continental vessels, and this necessity of 
life had become scarce, sometimes impossible 
to obtain, and very high in price. 

Major Wells had succeeded in purchasing 
four hogsheads of table salt and seven tierces 
of rock salt of John Chester Williams in Had- 
ley, who had only obtained this quantity, as he 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 213 

wrote, thro’ many difficulties encountered.’* 
Money was becoming very scarce, and many 
transactions were conducted by barter. The 
Shelburne folk paid for their salt in wheat. 
Carting the salt and wheat back and forth be- 
tween the two towns, and carrying out the 
details of the whole transaction, had required 
much time and thought on the part of the 
major. 

The document, opened at last, proved to be a 
commission appointing Major Wells Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the Fifth Hampshire County regiment. 
It was given by The Major Part of the Coun- 
cil of the Massachusetts Bay in New England,” 
and was signed : 

“Given under our Hands and the seal of the said 
Colony, at Watertown the fourteenth day of February, 
in the sixteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty 
King George the Third, Anno Domini 1776. 

By the command of the 

Major Part of the Council. 

Perez Morton, Clerk/' 

The seal affixed showed a man in a cocked 
hat, a drawn sword in one hand, a roll of parch- 
ment in the other. 

Well, Colonel Wells, I suppose you will ac- 
cept,” said his wife. 


214 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEVEN. 

I cannot do otherwise/’ said the new colo- 
nel. have pledged myself to the cause of 
my country so long as I am needed, and I 
cannot refuse any honorable service to which 
I may be called, no matter how arduous the 
duties.” 

The first duty required of Colonel Wells was 
to help raise money to purchase firearms for his 
regiment. Money was hard to secure, but he 
soon raised for this purpose in Shelburne two 
hundred and sixteen dollars, and sent it to 
Colonel Field, at Deerfield, the Colonel of the 
Fifth Hampshire regiment. 

Towards the last of March the clouds lifted. 
The joyful news came that at last, on March 
sixteenth, the British army had been forced by 
Washington’s skilful generalship to evacuate 
Boston, and on the twentieth the main body 
of the Continental army had marched into the 
city, welcomed with joy indescribable by its 
loyal inhabitants, whose pale faces still showed 
the effects of the ten months’ siege they had 
undergone. The Tories of the city had fled 
with the British army. 

Joy indescribable was felt all over New Eng- 
land at this triumph, — this relief from the be- 
sieging forces, and confidence in Washington’s 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 


215 


ability was strengthened. The British forces 
had retreated to New York and its vicinity, 
and Washington and his army also departed 
for that city, which was now destined to be- 
come the storm centre of the Revolution. 

In June a request was sent out by the Great 
and General Court to all the towns in the prov- 
ince^ asking that they express an opinion on the 
question of separation from Great Britain. 

Until this time many, on both sides, had clung 
desperately to the hope that the difficulties be- 
tween Great Britain and her colonies might, 
even yet, be peaceably adjusted. But the aver- 
sion to British rule and the desire for entire in- 
dependence had been growing steadily in the 
colonies, and at last came the time when the 
issue must be squarely met. 

Shelburne held a town meeting, with Captain 
John Wells as moderator, June 26, 1776, and 
passed this vote : 

“ Voted that this town will stand by the Honorable 
Continental Congress with their lives and fortunes, if 
their Honours think it Expedient to Declare us Inde- 
pendent from the Kingdom of Great Britain for the 
safety of our Rights and Privileges.’’ 

Similar votes were taken at Deerfield and all 
the towns around, and then all awaited anxiously 


216 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEYEN. 

news of the action taken by the Continental 
Congress at Philadelphia. 

As Colonel Wells had so much engrossing 
public business, the burden of the farm work 
now fell on DaYid, aided by Israel, while Wil- 
liam, although only nine, was also able to 
render considerable assistance. 

The morning of July twelfth DaYid said to 
William : 

You must ride down to Deerfield this after- 
noon for the mail and the news, William. 
Father will arriYe home to-night, and he will 
be anxious to hear from Philadelphia/^ 

All right,” said William cheerfully. 

A ride to Deerfield was sure to be more di- 
Yerting than raking after cart all the afternoon. 

I had just as soon ride down for the mail as 
not, DaYid,” said Israel. 

I can’t spare you,” said David. We must 
both work as hard as we can to get this hay 
in before it rains.” 

So Israel had to bend his back to labor, while 
William mounted old Whitey and wended his 
way down the mountain to Deerfield. 

As he crossed the ford and rode on across the 
meadow towards the village, he heard unusual 
sounds in that quiet region ; the roll of a drum. 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 217 

a few random shots fired, and, as he drew 
nearer, loud shouting and huzzas. 

William whipped up old Whitey and can- 
tered around the corner upon the common. Be- 
fore David Saxton’s tavern was gathered a 
crowd of men and boys, among them a number 
from Greenfield, who had come over to meet 
the Deerfield post-rider and learn the latest 
news. Timothy Gatlin, with his scarred face, 
had mounted the horse-block, and was beating 
a drum lustily. 

What is it ? What is the news ? ” asked 
William of some boys he knew. 

Congress has declared us Independent of 
Great Britain ! ” shouted the boys all together. 

This will be good news for your father, 
William,” said John Sheldon. 

When did they do it ? ” asked William. 

On July fourth Congress adopted a resolu- 
tion of Independence,” said Sheldon. The 
people of Philadelphia waited in crowds outside 
the hall, and when at last a signal was given, 
they rang the State-house bell fit to crack it, 
and all the other bells too. The Pennsylvania 
militia paraded on the common, and fired re- 
peated vollies. They tore down the royal 
coat of arms in the court-house, and burned it 


218 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

on the common, amidst the huzzas of the 
people.” 

Listen to this,” said Dickinson, who had 
torn open a New York paper sent him by a 
friend in that city. There was great excite- 
ment in New York. This paper says that on 
July ninth Washington had the Declaration of 
Independence read at the head of each brigade 
of the army. The soldiers, aided by some of 
the people, proceeded that very evening to pull 
down the leaden statue of King George that 
stood in front of the fort on Bowling Green, 
amid the shouts and cheers of the crowd. Then 
they broke it into pieces, to be run into bullets, 
to be used in the cause of independence. It 
yielded forty-two thousand, five hundred bul- 
lets ! ” 

Best use that lead was ever put to ! Capi- 
tal! Three cheers for New York!” shouted 
the crowd. 

^^But it seems Washington disapproved of 
these doings, as bordering on a riot,” said Dick- 
inson, as he continued to skim his paper. 

He may have felt it his duty, as a disciplin- 
arian, to rebuke the soldiers, but I believe, down 
in his heart, he sympathized with the boys,” 
said David Saxton. 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 219 

Of course he did. He was glad of it/’ said 
Lieutenant Bard well. 

William felt it a privilege indeed to be the 
one to bear such news as this home to Shel- 
burne. Getting the mail, he rode away as fast 
as he could make old Whitey travel up the 
hills. 

He reached home rather late, after the sup- 
per hour. His father stood on the doorsteps, 
looking down the road with some anxiety. 

Hurrah, father ! ” shouted William, waving 
his cap above his head. Hurrah ! Independ- 
ence is declared ! ” 

Thanks be to God ! ” exclaimed the colonel 
fervently. 

The whole family rushed out and gathered 
around William as he poured out an account of 
all that he had heard and seen at Deerfield. 

The fourth of July will always be a memo- 
rable day in this country,” said Colonel Wells. 

I only wish we had declared our independence 
sooner. We might have saved Canada.” 

The American troops had been obliged to 
evacuate Canada in June, and now the upper as 
well as the lower part of New York State lay 
open to British invasion. 

Israel, saddle me a fresh horse,” said the 


220 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

colonel. I must ride over to the centre with 
this great news forthwith.’’ 

After William had hastily swallowed his bread 
and milk, and he and Israel had done their 
evening chores, the boys were allowed, aided 
and abetted by David, to fire off David’s gun 
twice each, in celebration of the Declaration. 

Let us fire just once more,” begged William. 

Twice is n’t much for such a big occasion as 
this.” 

No, sir, not when powder is so scarce,” said 
David. 

Walter hovered around, half scared, half anx- 
ious to try firing himself. As for the girls, 
they stopped their ears every time the gun 
went off. 

’^^The noise splits my head,” said Lucinda. 

Pooh, that ’s nothing,” said William. Sup- 
pose you were a soldier in battle, with hundreds 
of muskets, and cannon besides, going off at 
once. What would you do then ? ” 

I’m glad I’m not a man,” said Lucinda. 

^‘1 wish I were,” said William. ^^I’d enlist 
the first tiling.” 

^^So would I,” said Walter. 

As David stood firm on the powder question, 
the boys had to content themselves with build- 


THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY. 221 

ing a big bonfire of dead branches on the hill- 
side east of the house. The bonfire blazed 
picturesquely skyward, lighting up the faces of 
the boys and girls scampering about for more 
fuel, and making an answering signal to another 
bonfire which, to the children’s delight, they saw 
burning across the valley on the Montague hills, 
no doubt also started to celebrate the Declara- 
tion of Independence. 

After the scripture reading that evening. 
Colonel Wells made a long and fervent prayer 
for the country, beseeching God to bless this 
action of his people, to give them wisdom and 
courage to defend their country’s liberties, and 
at last, in His own good time, to crown their 
struggles with success. Then the whole family 
joined in singing The American Soldier’s 
Hymn.” 

The deep bass of Colonel Wells and David, 
the tenor, liable to crack at times, of Israel, the 
sweet sopranos of Mrs. Wells and the girls, and 
the childish voices of the little boys, blended 
harmoniously as all sang with fervor : 

“ Lessons of war from Him we take 
And manly weapons learn to wield, 

Strong bows of steel with ease we break, 

Forced by our stronger arms to yield. 


222 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

“ ’T is God that still supports our right, 

His just revenge our foes pursues. 

’T is He that with resistless might 
Fierce nations to his power subdues.’* 

When, later, the Committee of Safety re- 
ceived a copy of the Declaration, the people 
of the town assembled at the meeting-house, 
where it was read to them. All listened with 
swelling hearts to the inspired words of Jeffer- 
son, voicing as they did the very soul of the 
country, its generous enthusiasm, its noble dar- 
ing of danger for the eternal rights of man. 

Throughout New England the Declaration was 
read thus to the assembled people in the meet- 
ing-houses, and was often engrossed in full on 
the town records. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 

T he Declaration of Independence was not 
followed by immediate success for the 
Americans. On the contrary, disaster after 
disaster was heaped upon them, as if to test 
their resolution to the utmost. 

On August twenty-second came the defeat at 
the Battle of Long Island, partly retrieved by 
the masterly retreat effected by Washington 
in withdrawing his troops across the water 
to New York in the very face of a victorious 
foe, far superior in numbers to his own poorly 
equipped and inexperienced soldiers. Massa- 
chusetts people were proud to know that his 
boats on this retreat were manned by fishermen 
from Marblehead. 

In October came the unsuccessful fight at 
White Plains, and on November sixteenth Fort 
Washington on the Hudson was taken by the 
British, obliging the abandonment of Fort 
Lee on the opposite shore, and the retreat of 


224 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Washington and his army to Hackensack, New 
Jersey. 

Early in December, Washington was pushed 
farther and farther south by the far superior 
army under Lord Cornwallis, and finally forced 
to take refuge on the western shore of the 
Delaware. Congress fied from Philadelphia to 
Baltimore. 

All indeed looked dark for the American 
cause. But Washington still stood firm and 
undaunted, with no thought of yielding. In a 
conversation with General Mercer at this time, 
he announced his purpose, if the worst came, of 
taking a stand in the mountains of West Vir- 
ginia, familiar to him from the campaigns of 
his youth. 

If overpowered,” he said, we must cross 
the Alleghanies.” 

The pressure of the war in every way grew 
heavier and heavier on the people. Early in 
January a call for four thousand blankets was 
sent out, to be raised in Massachusetts for the 
Continental Army. There were no factories. 
Blankets were made in the homes, the yarn be- 
ing spun and woven by the farmer’s wives and 
daughters of wool sheared from the sheep raised 
on the farm. Of these four thousand blankets, 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


225 


three hundred were required of Hampshire 
County, divided as follows : Springfield, twelve ; 
Hadley, Deerfield, and Greenfield, ten each; 
Hatfield, eleven ; Northampton and Whateley, 
seven ; and so on. 

These blankets were literally taken from the 
beds of the people. Mrs, Wells sent one, as her 
part of Shelburne’s quota, and she and her 
daughters, like the other women, worked early 
and late, spinning and weaving. 

I do wish we could have some roast lamb,” 
said Eunice one day. ^^It’s so long since we 
have had any, I almost forget how it tastes.” 

Your father would almost as soon think of 
killing one of you children, I believe, as of 
slaughtering a lamb, when the country needs 
every ounce of wool we can raise, and more 
too,” said her mother. 

Think of our soldiers, Eunice,” said Mary. 

Often they have to march and fight when 
cold and hungry. At least we have plenty to 
eat.” 

Ye-es,” admitted Eunice, but not good 
things, such as we used to have.” 

Spices could no longer be obtained. There 
was no tea, coffee, or chocolate ; no sugar but 
the homemade stock of maple sugar, which 
16 


226 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

must be used sparingly, to make it last until 
spring came again. Salt was scarce and hard 
to obtain, and pork the meat chiefly in use. 
So there was some foundation for Eunice’s 
complaint. But her mother said : 

My child, your father would be ill-pleased 
indeed to know that a daughter of his was so 
unpatriotic as to complain of a little self-denial 
and hardship borne in the cause of our country. 
If we hope to conquer in the end, every one 
must do his or her part, from the oldest to 
the youngest. William, it’s time for you and 
Walter to go for the cows.’’ 

^^Yes, ma’am, I’m going,” said William, as 
he lingeringly laid down Freebetter’s New 
England Almanac for 1776, Printed in New 
London,” which had come by mail for his 
father from a fellow representative in Boston. 

Children had almost no books, so there was 
a great charm even in an almanac, which had 
some reading matter, — an account of the bread 
fruit tree, etc., and a poem at the top of each 
month, of which this is a sample : 

The Coward, when his Country claims his Aid, 

Flies to some Screen to hide his awful head. 

Not so the brave, when Tyranny alarms 
Freedom’s true Son, and/orces him to Arms ; 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


227 


Scorning soft Pleasure and ignoble Pest, 

His Country’s Wrongs with Vengeance fire his Breast; 

Darts on his Foe, and drives the Slaves along ; 

For Justice guides his Arm, and Truth his Tongue.” 

William liked that poem. There was also a 
wonderful picture on the almanac’s cover. It 
was The Able Doctor, or America Swallowing 
the Bitter Draught,” and was taken from an en- 
graving by Paul Revere in the Royal American 
Magazine” of June, 1774. 

In it America, dressed as an Indian squaw, 
was seen prostrate on the ground, held down 
by Lord North and another British minister, 
while King George the Third, in an imposing 
wig and cue, with the Boston Port Bill pro- 
truding from his pocket, was trying to force 
a drink from a large pot marked ‘‘TEA” 
down America’s throat. Liberty, in the back- 
ground, clasping her pole crowned with a French 
liberty cap, covered her face and wept. 

“I don’t think this picture is right,” said 
William, still holding the almanac. “ King 
George did n’t force any of his tea down our 
throats.” 

“Don’t you see,” said Eunice, “America is 
spitting the tea back in the king’s face ? ” 

“ So she is. That is better,” said William. 


228 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Steer on, boys, steer on, or the cows will be 
late for the milking,” said their mother. 

William, seizing his cap and pouncing on 
Walter with a loud cry of Darts on his Foe, 
and drives the Slaves along,” — a proceeding 
duly resented by Walter, — disappeared for the 
cows. 

The Wells cows had so wide a range over the 
hills and through the woods that sometimes the 
boys were forced to travel far to find them. 
So it was to-night. Not a cow was in sight 
when the boys let down the bars and entered 
the pasture. 

Co-boss, Co-boss,” called William, but no 
gentle horned head pushed through the bushes 
in answer to his call. 

I should n’t wonder if they had gone through 
the woods over into the farther pasture,” said 
William. ^^It would be just like them.” 

“We can go and look at our traps when we 
are over that way,” said Walter, “ and see if 
we have caught any mink.” 

“ Not to-night. It ’s too late. We must hurry 
up or David will be after us,” said William. 

The cows had chosen to tarry in the remotest 
corner of the farther pasture, and dusk was al- 
ready falling as the boys drove them into the 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


229 


woods on the way back. It was dark in the 
woods, where there was a thick growth of pines 
and hemlocks scattered amongst the oaks and 
maples. 

Larry, as usual, was helping the boys drive 
the cows. But now he began to act strangely, 
growling, running off into the woods a way, 
then back to the boys, barking furiously. 

Larry scents some wild beast ; I know he 
does,’’ said Walter. I ’m afraid.” 

We’ll hurry on,” said William, quickening 
his pace. 

But now the boys plainly heard a crackling 
in the brush, and twigs snapping as if under the 
tread of some heavy animal. 

^^Bun, Walter, run and tell the boys,” said 
William. I ’ll try to bring the cows out.” 

Walter took this advice without any urging, 
plying his little legs down the hill as fast as 
they could fly. The cows evidently scented 
danger, for they broke into a clumsy run, with 
William keeping close at their heels. 

Looking back over his shoulder William 
dimly saw through the gathering darkness the 
form of some big animal crashing through the 
underbrush. 

Bushing out of the woods and down the hill 


230 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

towards the bars, he met David and Israel with 
their guns. 

It *s a bear ! I saw it,” gasped William. 

Bears, wild-cats, and catamounts were still 
abundant on Hoosac Mountain, and sometimes 
strayed through into Shelburne, where Dragon 
Hill, Brimstone Hill, and many another hill still 
thickly wooded, afforded them excellent retreats. 
As the Great and General Court paid a bounty 
for all wild animals killed, the boys had a double 
motive in hunting, — to protect their stock and 
to secure the bounty. 

Larry led the way back into the woods, 
where the boys ere long succeeded in killing 
a big black bear. 

There,” said David, with great satisfaction, 
Eunice can have plenty of fresh meat now, 
without our slaughtering a lamb. It will taste 
good to us all, I guess.” 

^^And the skin will help piece out mother’s 
blankets,” said Israel. 

And you and I can manage to find use for 
the bounty money, I fancy,” said David. 

Humph, I should say so,” answered Israel. 
^^I hope they will pay it in silver.” 

December came in gloomily for the patriot 
cause, with the capture of General Lee, while 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


231 


Washington and his small army, but poorly 
supplied with clothing or ammunition, now lay 
encamped on the western shore of the Delaware. 

The British troops were posted in New 
Jersey, from Brunswick to the Delaware River. 
The Hessians under Colonel Rahl were at the 
front, on the Delaware’s eastern shore, at Tren- 
ton. It was known that the victorious British 
felt that an easy task lay before them, and were 
only awaiting the freezing of the Delaware 
(whence Washington had managed to remove 
all the boats) to cross on the ice, demolish the 
poor remnant of the American army, and take 
possession of Philadelphia. 

The Hessians had succeeded in making them- 
selves cordially hated in New Jersey, by patriots 
and loyalists alike. Knowing nothing of the 
rights or wrongs of the cause, and regarding 
the war solely as an opportunity to enrich 
themselves, they had robbed houses wherever 
they had been stationed in New Jersey, not 
only of food, but of silver, ornaments, clothing, 
and furniture, carrying off great packs of val- 
uables from Tories as well as Whigs. The 
Hessian plundering had added to the hatred 
already felt in America for King George’s hired 
soldiery. Dread was mingled with this hatred ; 


232 BOYS AND GIELS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

for exaggerated stories were told of their im- 
mense size and strength, reported to render 
them invincible. 

Captain Agrippa Wells and his company had 
returned home after the evacuation of Boston 
by the British, having been encamped there 
nine months. After his return, young John 
Wells was a frequent visitor at his cousin’s in 
Shelburne, and finally the event which had been 
expected for some time by all their acquaint^ 
ances came to pass, and John and Mary Wells 
were engaged to be married. 

One bitter cold night, the last of December, 
Colonel Wells came in from the barn. 

Israel,” he said, you and William take the 
sled and haul in the biggest backlog you can 
find. It’s going to be the coldest night we 
have had yet. I feel sorry for our poor boys 
off in the army to-night.” 

^^I cannot help thinking of them day and 
night,” said Mrs. Wells. 

Jeremiah Graves, who was among those 
captured at Fort Washington, is at home now,” 
said David. He says it was galling to see the 
contrast beween our troops and the British. 
The British looked so trim and comfortable in 
their smart red coats, while our boys were 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


233 


dressed in tattered hunting shirts and frocks, 
their toes sticking out through their ragged 
shoes and stockings, if they were lucky enough 
to have any shoes. He said the British them- 
selves could n’t help feeling sorry for them, 
their condition was so miserable, but ^ hang it,’ 
said Jeremiah, ^ I want none of their pity.’ 
The worst of it is, they think we ’re such a poor 
lot of ragamuffins, they can beat us without 
trying.” 

God does not always favor the strongest 
battalions,” said Colonel Wells. ^^But the 
prospect does look dark just now. If it is as 
cold as this in New Jersey to-night, the Dela- 
ware will soon freeze over, and then — ” 

Here there came a loud rapping at the door, 
which was then opened without further cere- 
mony by the newcomer, and in walked Captain 
Agrippa Wells. 

Why, Cousin ’Grip, is it you ? Glad to see 
you. What brings you riding out this cold 
night ? No bad news, I hope ? ” asked Colonel 
Wells anxiously. 

^^No, not very,” answered Captain ’Grip, his 
eyes shining, his cheeks ruddy from the cold, as 
he threw off his fur cap and muffler. There ’s 
news enough, though, — glorious news. Too 


234 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

good to keep. I could not help riding out to 
tell you, if Mehitabel did think I was crazy to 
come.’’ 

What is it ? ” asked every one at once. 
Washington has crossed the Delaware, and 
captured the Hessians ! ” 

You don’t mean it ! Are you sure ? ” 

Yes, an express rode in to Deerfield and 
Greenfield this afternoon with the great news.” 

Praise the Lord ! ” cried the colonel, his 
face aglow. This sudden leap from despair to 
such unexpected joy was almost more than he 
could grasp. 

‘^Tell us all you know,” he said. 

^^We only know that Washington and his 
troops crossed the Delaware above Trenton 
Christmas night. It was a stormy night, bitter 
cold, much floating ice in the river, and 
Colonel Glover and his Marblehead fishermen, 
who manned the boats, had a hard struggle to 
get our men over. Washington meant to sur- 
prise the Hessians at night, but crossing the 
river took so much longer than he expected 
that it was daylight, eight o’clock, before he 
reached Trenton. The cold was so bitter that 
two of his men were frozen to death that 
night.” 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 


235 


Poor boys ! ’’ said Mrs. Wells, tears in her 
eyes. “ Somebody’s sons. Probably they were 
thinly clad.” 

Go on, go on,” cried the young folks, who 
all listened eagerly with shining eyes. 

‘‘Well, sir, the long and short of it is, after 
some sharp fighting those Hessians struck their 
colors to Washington, — surrendered ! ” 

“ He gave them ‘ Merry Christmas,’ did n’t 
he ? ” said Israel. 

“ Yes, my boy, he did. Our army took nearly 
a thousand Hessians prisoners, thirty-two offi- 
cers among them. Their commander, Colonel 
Rahl, was fatally wounded, and died soon after 
the surrender.” 

“ Well, well,” said Colonel Wells, his face 
radiant, “ this seems almost too good to be true. 
What a glorious day for our country ! ” 

“It has changed the whole face of things,” 
said Captain ’Grip, rubbing his hands gleefully 
together. “ The year will go out in very differ- 
ent shape from what we expected. Instead of 
our army being driven from pillar to post all 
over New Jersey, they ’ve turned on their pur- 
suers. Washington is going to do a little driv- 
ing himself now. He will clear Howe and his 
troops out of New Jersey before next month 
ends, you will see.” 


236 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

The time for which many of his men en- 
listed is about expiring,” said Colonel Wells. 
‘^That is one reason why we have felt such 
anxiety.” 

^^He is offering a big bounty to have them 
re-enlist.” 

Where can he get money in these hard 
times ? ” 

The Lord has raised up a man to help our 
cause in this strait. Robert Morris of Philadel- 
phia has come to the rescue, aided by a wealthy 
Quaker. And Congress, on December twenty- 
seventh, made Washington our military dic- 
tator.” 

“ A wise plan, too long delayed,” said Colonel 
Wells. 

^‘1 must ride on up to the centre, and tell 
Daniel Nims and the rest the good news, seeing 
I have started,” said Captain Wells. 

Before you set out on your cold ride, have 
a mug of hot flip,” said the colonel, bringing 
from the fireplace the steaming glass mug from 
which Mary had just removed the hot flip 
iron. 

It was not in Captain ’Grip’s heart to decline 
so timely an offer. 

Here ’s to our country and General Wash- 


SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN. 237 

ington ! ’’ he said, raising the mug on high 
before draining its contents low. 

Father/’ said David, I ’d like to ride 
over to the Taylors’ and tell them this great 
news.” 

‘^Do so, by all means, my son,” said the 
colonel. 

If Noah were only here, how delighted he 
would be ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Wells, in whose 
heart the absent ones were always present. 

After Captain ’Grip and David had ridden 
away, and the rest had talked over the en- 
couraging news in all its bearings on the coun- 
try’s cause, Israel brought out the pitch pipe, 
saying : 

Father, please set the pitch, and let us all 
sing ^ Yankee Doodle.’ ” 

The colonel laughed, but did as Israel re- 
quested, and the Wellses, all good singers, old 
and young, sang lustily the song which now 
glorified the name first used by the British to 
deride the plain and simple country folk opposed 
to them. But, soon after the Battle of Bunker 
Hill, Yankee Doodle” had become the national 
paean. The army marched to its inspiring 
strains, men whistled it at their work and boys 
at their play, and mothers crooned their babies 


238 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

to sleep with its strains as they rocked the 
cradle. 

“ Father and I went down to camp, 

Along with Captain Gooding, 

And there we saw the men and boys 
As thick as hasty pudding. 

Chorus. 

Yankee Doodle, keep it up, 

Yankee doodle dandy. 

Mind the music and the steps. 

And with the girls be handy.” 


CHAFIER XX. 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


ASHINGTON and his army remained in 



T T winter quarters at Morristown, and there 
was a cessation of hostilities for a season. 
Spring would undoubtedly bring a renewal of 
activity, and it was hoped that the coming year 
would see a determined effort to repel the 
invaders crowned with success. 

In April, 1777, two battalions, of seven hun- 
dred and fifty men each, were ordered from 
Hampshire County to Fort Ticonderoga for two 
months. In Shelburne, at a town meeting 
held April twenty-eighth, it was voted ^Hhat 
this Town will give eighteen pounds to every 
man that will engage in the Continental service, 
for three years or during the War, until the 
number we are to raise is completed, six pounds 
to be paid at the passing muster, and six 
pounds annually after that till the whole sum 
is paid, allowing Mr. Stephen Kellogg for his 


240 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

negro man Charles as much as the others 
have.’’ 

The first of May, Colonel Wells, who had 
been at Northampton several days attending a 
convention, came home. 

David, who was at work ploughing on a hill- 
side field that commanded a view, not only of 
the valley below, far up and down, but also of 
the road, saw his father coming and went down 
the hill to greet him. 

I ’m glad you are back, father,” he said. 

There is so much to be done just now, with 
all the spring work pushing on, I need your 
advice and help.” 

As David spoke, he noticed that his father’s 
face wore a serious and abstracted expression. 

David,” he said, ^^you and I will have to 
turn our attention to other matters. As I ex- 
pected, our regiment is ordered out.” 

David had enlisted some time previously in 
the Shelburne company commanded by Cap- 
tain Lawrence Kemp, in the Fifth Hampshire 
regiment. 

^^We are ordered to reinforce Fort Ticonde- 
roga. I saw Colonel Field, and consulted him 
as I came through Deerfield.’^ 

Will he be able to go ? ” asked David. 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 241 

No, he is too feeble. The command of the 
regiment devolves on me.’’ 

“ How soon do we go ? ” asked David, in 
excited tones. 

“We are ordered to meet at Deerfield May 
ninth, ready to march. I shall have my hands 
full from now on, mustering in the companies, 
enlisting some fresh recruits, and looking after 
supplies.” 

David could not return to his work after 
such exciting news as this. He brought his 
horse from the field, and followed his father 
to the house, where the tidings that, at last, 
the father and oldest son were to follow in 
Noah’s footsteps and go to the war, had to be 
broken to Mrs. Wells and her daughters. 

Often had Mrs. Wells looked forward with 
dread to this hour, beseeching her Father in 
Heaven to give her strength to meet it calmly, to 
do her duty, to stand by her country in its hour 
of trial, ready to make any sacrifice needed. 

Her face paled, and the blood rushed tumul- 
tuously to her heart. Her voice was tremulous, 
in spite of herself, as she said : 

“ So the time has come. Well, we must all 
do our part. Have you any idea how long you 
will be away, David ? ” 


16 


242 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

‘^Not much over two months, I suppose,’’ 
said the colonel, cheerfully trying to put the 
best aspect on the case. ‘^It all depends on 
the movements of the British.” 

Don’t be worried, mother,” said David, 
who, being a youth of spirit beneath his quiet 
exterior, was full of animation at the prospect 
before him. ^^We may not have the luck to 
see any fighting.” 

“ The British activity seems mostly confined 
to New Jersey at present,” said the colonel. 

Howe is waking up, as the grass gets green 
enough for forage, and has gone out to 
Brunswick, evidently aiming for Philadelphia. 
Washington has moved up to Middlebrook near 
by, to watch his movements.” 

^‘But what shall we do, father, while you 
and David are gone to the war ? ” asked 
Lucinda, in dismay. Who will run the 
farm ? ” 

Israel will have to do the best he can, with 
some help from William, under your mother’s 
directions,” said Colonel Wells. 

Israel ! ” exclaimed Lucinda. 

^^Yes, Israel is fifteen now. He will do 
pretty well, with your mother to oversee 
him.” 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


243 


I will do my best,” said Mrs. Wells. Of 
course things will not go on as usual. But we 
can manage after a fashion.” 

^^We will all help you, mother,” said Mary. 

Lucinda and I can aid the boys about planting 
and other work.” 

I can ride the horse to plough just as well 
as the boys,” said Eunice. 

When Israel, on coming home to supper, 
learned that he was to be left at the head of 
affairs on the farm, he was perceptibly gratified, 
although he tried not to show it. At last he 
should be his own master, and have a chance to 
do as he liked. So often, when Israel was sure 
his way was the best, had he been obliged to 
yield to David. But now he would have a 
chance to show that he knew a few things as 
well as David. 

^^All right, father,” said Israel cheerfully. 
^‘1 know all about what needs doing. If 
William and the girls will help me a little, 1 
can manage, I know.” 

Make haste slowly, Israel,” said his father. 

I am glad to see your willing spirit, but you 
must be guided by your mother s ‘Counsel, 
remember.” 

‘^As if I needed to ask mother!” thought 


244 BOYS AND GIRLS OP SEYENTY-SEYEN. 

Israel, but careful to keep his opinion to 
himself. 

Busy were the next few days in the Wells 
household. DaYid and his father were doing 
all they possibly could to leaYe the farm in 
good condition, though Colonel Wells was 
necessarily absent much of the time on public 
business. Mrs. Wells and the girls were busy 
getting together the necessary clothing and 
blankets and preparing food for the long 
march. 

On the afternoon of May ninth. Colonel 
Wells and David, laden with all the comforts 
home love could devise, shouldered their guns, 
knapsacks, and blankets, said a last good-bye, 
and departed down the hill, around the same 
turn where Noah had waved his last adieu. 
They were going to Deerfield, where the regi- 
ment was to meet. 

Mrs. Wells had taken refuge in her bedroom 
to hide the irrepressible tears, and control her 
grief before meeting the remnant of her family. 

^^0 God,” cried her anguished heart, ^‘help 
me ! Help me to be brave for the sake of the 
others ! Help me to do my duty in this strait ! 
And, if it be Thy will, suffer my dear ones to 
come home in safety.” 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


245 


Do not watch them out of sight/’ said Mary, 
coming hastily back into the house as her father 
and David disappeared down the hill. ‘^It is 
said to bring bad luck.” 

Bad luck ! ” said Lucinda. I think we 
have bad luck enough now, to be left here alone 
on the farm, with only Israel and William to do 
the men’s work.” 

Lucinda is a Tory. She is n’t willing to 
help her country,” said Eunice. 

I am willing, too,” said Lucinda, with 
spirit. ‘^But it’s hard, all the same.” 

We will not say a word about bad luck, or 
complain of hard work,” said Mary, if father 
and David only get back safely.” 

The Fifth Hampshire regiment marched from 
Deerfield for Fort Ticonderoga May tenth. In 
the regiment were the companies of Captain 
Timothy Childs, Captain John Wells, Captain 
Thomas French, Captain Lawrence Kemp, Cap- 
tain Joseph Stebbins, and Captains Good- 
ale, Starrow, Gunn, Harvey, and Jeremiah 
Ballard. 

The regiment was to march out the Albany 
road to the west, through Shelburne and Chari e- 
mont, then by the Cold River trail over Hoo- 
sac Mountain to Williamstown (the site of old 


246 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Fort Massachusetts), and thence on northwest 
to Fort Ticonderoga. 

On the morning of May tenth William beset 
his mother to let him and Walter go down to 
the Albany road to see the regiment march by. 

^^Do let us go, mother,’' begged William. 
‘^We may never have another chance to see 
father’s regiment.” 

‘^1 want to go,” said Walter. 

‘^So do I,” said Eunice. ^^May we go, 
mother? We will not be gone long.” 

Mrs. Wells consented, but added : 

You must all hurry back as soon as the 
regiment has passed, and not loiter by the way, 
for there is plenty of work for every one, even 
Walter, — more than we all can do, work we 
ever so fast.” 

Israel wanted to go as much as the others, 
but was sustained in his self-denial by the proud 
consciousness that he was now the man of the 
family, on whom everything depended, and 
could not be spared. 

The two bare-footed, rosy-cheekecl, sunburned 
boys, looking so hardy and happy, and Eunice, 
with pink cheeks and shining blue eyes, her 
blue sunbonnet perched jauntily on her brown, 
wavy hair, raced off up the hill and down to- 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


247 


wards the south, in terror lest the regiment 
should march past ere they arrived. But the 
dusty road showed no footprints as yet, and the 
breathless children perched themselves on the 
rail fence beside the road, to wait as patiently 
as they could. 

At last the faint tap, tap of a drum was heard 
in the distance. 

They 're coming !’' cried the excited children. 

Soon, around the corner below, came march- 
ing the soldiers. Their father and a few others 
of the officers were on horseback. The others 
marched by on foot, tramp, tramp, tramp, keep- 
ing time to the drum-beat. 

Eli Skinner, the fifer, a Shelburne boy, recog- 
nizing the children, struck up on his fife the 
popular war tune, “ Over the hills, and far away." 

Colonel Wells gave his loved children a fond 
smile and hand wave as he rode by. Over him 
fluttered the regimental flag, which showed a 
pine tree and a field of corn. He was a large 
man, of dignified, commanding aspect, and 
looked well fitted for his place. 

There 's David ! " cried Eunice. See, he 's 
fourth from the end in that row. He 's waving 
his hand to us.” 

The boys waved their caps, and Eunice her 


248 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

sunbonnet, in response. They recognized many 
a friend in the ranks, — young men from Shel- 
burne, Deerfield, and Greenfield, well known to 
them. In Captain Timothy Childs’ company 
they saw Isaac and John Newton, Hull Nims, 
Aaron Denio, Simeon Nash, and the Hastings 
boys from Greenfield. 

Who was that tall young fellow in Captain 
Stebbins’s Deerfield company that bowed to you, 
Eunice ? ” asked William. I never saw him 
before.” 

‘^His name is Preserved Smith. He comes 
from Baptist Corner in Ashfield,” said Eunice. 

I met him in Deerfield last winter. He is only 
sixteen years old.” 

Sixteen ! ” said William. I wish I were 
sixteen. I ’d be off to the war with the rest, 
you may depend.” 

The last note of the fife, the last tap of the 
drum, died away among the silent hills; the 
last man in this long procession of youths going 
to war vanished around the upper turn in the 
road whose dust was now full of footprints, and 
the birds began again to sing in the echoing 
silence. 

I would n’t have missed seeing that sight 
for anything,” said William. 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


249 


I mean to be a colonel, like father, when 
I grow up,” said Walter. 

‘‘I shall never forget that sight, even if I 
live to be an old lady,” said Eunice, with fervor. 
^^But now, boys, we must hurry home. You 
know what we promised mother.” 

The children started for home, singing as 
they went Over the hills, and far away,” the 
tune to which the boys had marched past, and 
keeping step to the music in true soldierly 
fashion : 

‘ ‘ The white cockade, and the peacock feather, 

The American boys will fight forever; 

The drum shall beat, and the fife shall play, 

Over the hills, and far away.” 

As the two boys were now so busy on the 
farm, it sometimes became Eunice’s duty to 
ride down to Deerfield for any mail the post- 
rider might bring. Eunice was now thirteen, 
and a good horsewoman, quite equal to the 
undertaking. 

Never had the mail been awaited with more 
impatience on the farm than on the afternoon 
of June twenty-second, when Eunice had gone 
to Deerfield for it. Nothing had been heard 
from father or son since their departure, nor 
had any intelligence been received as to the 


250 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

condition of afEairs at Fort Ticonderoga and 
the north. All Shelburne, in common with the 
whole country, waited impatiently for tidings 
from the northern field. 

If Eunice does not bring us any news to- 
night, I shall be almost in despair,'* said Mrs. 
Wells. It seems as if I musl hear from your 
father and David." 

There she comes, mother," said Walter, now 
seven years old. ‘‘ I '11 run to meet her, and 
see if she has any letters." 

And away dashed Walter down the hill 
to meet old Whitey, on whose back rode 
Eunice. 

Seeing him coming, Eunice waved a letter 
aloft, crying : 

A letter ! A letter from David ! " 

Walter turned and raced back to the house 
to tell his mother the glad news, while Eunice 
whipped up old Whitey into as fast a jog as that 
reliable animal was ever known to exhibit, and 
came bouncing up to the door, where her mother 
stood awaiting her. 

All gathered around while Mrs. Wells opened 
the letter. It was only a few lines, written on 
a small, crumpled piece of paper^ and dated 
^'Fort Ti, June ye 5th, 1777." 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 251 

After speaking of the fatiguing march, which 
had taken five days, David continued : 

“ I have only time to scratch these few lines. Our 
regiment is posted on Mt. Independence, a high hiU 
on the east shore of the lake, opposite Fort Ti. Here 
we boys are digging for all we are worth, throwing 
up batteries and entrenching this hill. Plenty of 
cannon are mounted here, and if the British take it, 
they will have to do some hard fighting. There is a 
rumor in the camp to-night that Burgoyne has gone to 
Canada, and means to come down this way with his 
army. Father is well, and so am I. Father is very 
busy. He desires his love to you and to all the fam- 
ily. Tell Israel and William digging trenches all day 
in the hot sun is almost as hard work as farming. I 
must close, as there is a chance to send this letter by 
an express riding to Albany to-night. 

“Your dutiful son, 

“Dayh) Wells.” 

‘‘I hope that rumor about Burgoyne is not 
true,’’ said Mrs. Wells. 

Hardly had she spoken when old Jedediah 
Jenkins was seen limping into the yard. Uncle 
Jed, as every one called him, lived over near 
the centre of the town, and was a well-known 
character. 

^^How d’ye do, Mrs. Wells,” he said, as he 
entered, dropping into a rush-bottomed chair 


252 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

with a force that threatened to go through 
it. “ I was over this way fishin’ and thought 
I’d just drop in and tell you folks the news. 
I ’m afraid our boys up at Fort Ti are goin’ to 
see hard times.” 

What do you mean?” asked Mrs. Wells, 
instantly alarmed. 

Burgoyne is out on Lake Champlain with a 
big fleet, making for Fort Ti as fast as the wind 
can carry him.” 

How do you know ? ” asked Mrs. Wells. 

Dr. Long has just come home from Albany ; 
rode over the Hoosac by the old trail into 
Charlemont, and so home. While he was in 
Albany, General Schuyler had this news from 
the north, and left for Fort Ti right away. Al- 
bany folks heard from General Schuyler later. 
He was then at Fort George, doing all he could 
to hurry up provisions and reinforcements for 
Fort Ti. Dr. Long says that Schuyler has writ- 
ten that he thinks only a small part of Bur- 
goyne’s forces will stop at Fort Ti, to amuse our 
boys, and hold them there, while the main army, 
the general thinks, will push on to the Connecti- 
cut River, and make a raid down this way.” 

How terrible, if true ! ” exclaimed Mrs. 
Wells, with pale face. 


OFF FOR THE WAR. 


253 


Terrible ! I guess it is/’ said Uncle Jed. 
they say Burgoyne’s army is mostly 
made up of those hired Hessians and wild 
Indians, with a few renegade Tories and regu- 
lars. If he lets a lot of those savages loose on 
us here, why, we know pretty well what to ex- 
pect. Charlemont folks haven’t forgotten the 
slaying of Captain Moses Rice, nor Deerfield 
people the massacre at the Bars. Plenty of 
people living now who remember all about it. 
I declare, my scalp begins to feel loose a’ready. 
I have to feel on ’t once in a while, to make sure 
it ’s still on top my head,” said Uncle Jed, press- 
ing his hand on his uncombed shock of gray 
hair. 

I wish father were here,’ ’ said Lucinda, ready 
to cry. 

Mrs. Wells said nothing. Hard indeed was 
her position. Husband and son absent at the 
seat of war, perhaps to be slain in the coming 
battle ; she here at home, struggling to carry on 
the large farm with her daughters and young 
boys ; and possibly a raid of Indians and foreign 
soldiers overhanging them, defenceless as they 
were ! 

When all human help fails, there is still one 
refuge left the believing heart. Mrs. Wells sent 


254 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

a silent prayer up to the Father in Heaven, who 
saw all, knew all, to whom David and her hus- 
band were as near as she, that He would watch 
over all her loved ones, protect them from threat- 
ened danger, and yet bring peace out of these 
alarms. 

Uncle Jed stayed to supper, stowing away a 
large porringer full of hot bean porridge and a 
fabulous number of Mrs. Wells’s biscuits with the 
air of one who has justly earned it all, making 
himself agreeable by recounting tales of Indian 
ravages in days gone by. 


CHAPTER XXL 


DARK DAYS. 

I T was one of the hottest of summer days, 
this eighteenth of July, 1777. The Wellses 
were making hay, — at least, they were trying to. 
Israel was able to swing a scythe, and William 
was ambitious to, succeeding quite well for a 
boy of ten. Lucinda, Eunice, and Walter were 
also in the hayfield, tossing the grass about to 
dry and raking it up into cocks. 

Days had passed since Uncle Jed had given 
the Wellses so serious an alarm. Rumors had 
come from the north of disastrous fighting at 
Fort Ticonderoga, even that the fort had been 
abandoned, and that the American troops under 
General St. Clair had disappeared, no one knew 
where. How much truth there was in the con- 
flicting rumors no one knew, for no really 
authentic information had been received. But 
there was ground for great uneasiness, and all 
New England awaited further news from the 


256 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

north with deepest anxiety. Every one realized 
that a victory for Burgoyne at Fort Ticonde- 
roga would lay all New England open to his 
ravages. 

The Wellses had heard nothing further from 
their absent ones since David's letter, and Mrs. 
Wells had grown thin and worn, between her 
extra work and care and the terrible burden of 
anxiety she bore. 

The sun began to sink lower towards the 
western hills, and a grateful breeze sprang up. 
Israel stopped to mop his forehead. 

Well, I know I am glad of one thing, — to 
see that sun sinking lower. He 's done his level 
best to scorch us. Now, William, the hay on 
this lot is ready to go in. You get the cart 
and tell Mary to come out and help us load. 
The rest of us will finish raking up by the time 
you get back with the cart." 

Israel certainly did enjoy ordering the others 
about, and was inclined to make the most of his 
opportunity. Sometimes his brothers and sisters 
rebelled, but generally they realized that Israel 
was captain for the time being, and was doing 
his best in a hard place. For a boy who did 
not love work, Israel was really accomplishing 
wonders. 


DARK DAYS. 


257 


Mary was weaving a blanket on the loom, 
and was only too glad to exchange the hot 
work indoors for a ride on the cart, in the soft 
summer breeze now blowing, to the hayfield 
with William, who ‘^gee-ed’' and hawed” 
the oxen in stentorian voice, that rang over the 
hills. 

Arrived at the hayfield, Mary stayed on the 
cart and stowed away the hay, as Israel and 
William tossed it up to her, while Lucinda, 
Eunice, and Walter raked after the cart. 

At last the load grew so high that William 
with his short arms found it difficult to toss up 
the hay. 

See here, Israel,’' he said, that ’s a plenty 
big enough load. Let’s cart this to the barn 
and then come back for the rest.” 

What are you talking about ? ” said Israel. 
^^This isn’t half a load. I mean to get the 
whole of the hay on this load.” 

You ’re mighty smart, Israel,” said William, 
tired, and cross from the heat. Try it, if you 
want to. I ’m not going to break my back 
tossing another pitchfork-full, see if I do.” 

William threw himself down on the ground 
and began to sing a well-known ballad, suitable, 
perhaps he felt, to his mutiny : 

17 


258 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

“My name was William Kidd, when I sailed, when I 
sailed, 

My name was William Kidd, when I sailed. 

My name was William Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid. 

And so wickedly I did when I sailed.” 

I ’ll kid you, Captain Kidd, as soon as I get 
this hay loaded,” said Israel. 

Boys, don’t quarrel,” began Mary, and then 
stopped. 

Suddenly from her station high on the load 
of hay, her eye was attracted by something 
down the road. 

Boys,” she cried, there ’s some one coming. 
Why, I do believe it is father and David ! ” 
The heat and all quarrels were forgotten now. 
Mary scrambled down from the load, she hardly 
knew how, pitchforks and rakes were dropped, 
as all ran to meet the returning soldiers. 

Great was the delight of the children to see 
their father again, who greeted them lovingly as 
his brave little workers.” David too had the 
heartiest greetings from the excited young 
people. They noticed at once, however, that 
both father and son looked as if they had seen 
hard times. 

‘‘Where’s Major, father?” asked Israel. 
“Why are you on foot?” 


DARK DATS. 259 

Poor old Major was shot somewhere in 
Vermont,” said the colonel. 

And only by good luck was father not shot 
with him,” said David. 

‘‘Is that a bullet-hole through your hat, 
David?” asked Eunice. 

“ I guess so. I Ve been where bullets were 
flying fast and thick,” said David. 

“ Father, what is the matter ? ” asked Mary. 
“ You and David look exhausted and really sick, 
and walk as if you could hardly drag yourselves 
along. And your clothes are soiled and torn.” 

“We have but a sorry story to tell, I regret 
to say,” answered the colonel, “ a story of dire 
calamity to our cause.” 

After reaching the house, where Mrs. Wells 
welcomed back husband and son almost as those 
risen from the dead, the colonel and David told 
the whole story of the disastrous outcome at 
Fort Ticonderoga; the discovery on July fifth 
of the fortifications erected by the British on 
Sugar Hill, or “Fort Defiance,” as the British 
named it, completely overlooking and com- 
manding both Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Inde- 
pendence opposite, where the Fifth Hampshire 
regiment was stationed ; the evacuation of the 
American forts that night, the retreat, under 


260 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

General St. Clair, through Vermont to Fort 
Edward, and the attack upon the Americans by 
the forces under General Fraser, with the hot 
fighting that followed. 

What a terrible calamity to lose Fort Ticon- 
deroga,'' said Mrs. Wells, as her husband, whose 
worn, haggard face showed but too plainly the 
hardships and anxieties he had borne, finished 
this story. 

‘^We not only lost the fort,” said Colonel 
Wells, ‘^but the loss in artillery, ammunition, 
and stores is tremendous, greater than the 
country can meet in its present straitened 
circumstances. Worse yet is the outlook for 
the future. The people at Albany are panic- 
stricken. They fear that now the forts are 
taken to the north, and the British are in full 
possession of the lakes, Burgoyne will be right 
down upon them. They are said to be rushing 
about as if distracted, sending their goods off 
into the country, and preparing to leave them- 
selves.” 

‘^What do you think of the prospect, David?” 
asked his wife anxiously. 

I try to hope that the Lord will yet come to 
our rescue. The British, of course, will feel 
now that the war is about ended, and that the 


DARK DAYS. 


261 


rest will be easy. Burgoyne, no doubt, considers 
Albany already as good as in his possession; 
but we shall still struggle to save it.’’ 

I know it is selfish,” said Mrs. Wells, tears 
dimming her eyes, ^^but, in spite of the country’s 
calamities, I cannot help rejoicing because you 
and David are safely home again. It is such a 
comfort to see you, and hear your voice again. 
You don’t know how I have missed you.” 

^^We are here but for a short time. Our 
regiment was discharged July eighth, and we 
had to make our way home as best we could. 
But we may be ordered out any day. I must 
hasten right away to enlist and equip fresh 
recruits to fill our broken ranks.” 

‘^You ought to rest, David. You do not 
look able to do anything,” said his wife. 

“ This is no time to rest,” said Colonel Wells. 

To stay at home, doing nothing, in such a 
crisis as this, would wear on me more than 
anything I could do.” 

At supper, both the returned soldiers ate as 
if half famished. 

‘^Mother, you can never imagine how de- 
licious this bean porridge and your bread and 
butter taste,” said David, as he passed up his 
porringer for another helping. 


262 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY -SEVEN. 

^‘We were often short of rations/’ said the 
colonel, ‘‘especially coming down through Ver- 
mont. We had to depend mostly on the farm- 
houses along the way for food, and sometimes 
the allowance was but scanty.” 

“ And we slept on the ground more than one 
night,” said David. 

It seemed strange to David, after- his camp 
life and the hard and dangerous scenes through 
which he had passed, to find home unchanged, 
everything as natural and peaceful as if his 
two months’ campaign were but a dream. Never 
had home seemed so dear and pleasant to him. 
Yet he knew he must soon leave it again for 
the risks and hardships of another campaign. 
Because home and country were precious must he 
leave home to save it. For its sake he was ready 
again to encounter the perils of the battle-field. 

The Boston papers now published Burgoyne’s 
proclamation issued at Crown Point, in which 
he threatened New England as follows : 

“ Let not people consider their distance from 
my camp ; I have but to give stretch to the 
Indian forces under my direction, and they 
amount to thousands, to overtake the hardened 
enemies of Great Britain.” 

It also became known that Burgoyne had 


DARK DAYS. 


263 


promised, as soon as he reached Albany, — an 
event which he felt involved only a short and 
easy campaign, — to send his Indian allies 

towards Connecticut and Boston.” These In- 
dians were to be led by La Come St. Luc, who 
was known to permit the free use of the scalp- 
ing knife. 

These threats, and all the horrors they implied, 
were not lost on the New Englanders. They 
were made more emphatic the last of July, when 
the story of the massacre and scalping of Jane 
McCrea near Fort Edward ran like wild-fire all 
over horrified New England. Home to every 
heart came vividly the horrible possibilities of 
an invasion by Biirgoyne. 

Colonel Wells brought the news home one 
night in early August, after a trip he had taken 
to Charlemont, to confer with Captain Hugh 
Maxwell, Captain Othniel Taylor, Captain Syl- 
vanus Rice, and others of the local leaders, 
about raising more men. 

After Colonel Wells had related the story of 
Jane McCrea, which nad come over the mountain 
from Albany, his wife, her face blanched with 
horror, looked on her girls' fair locks as if she 
already saw them in an Indian's clutch, and 
exclaimed : 


264 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

To think — it might have been one of our 
girls ! And it may be yet, if Burgoyne goes on 
conquering.” 

^^This will rouse our people as nothing else 
has done, you will see,” said Colonel Wells. 

Washington well understands the British plan. 
They intend that Burgoyne from the north and 
Howe from the south shall meet at Albany, and 
thus cut o£E New England entirely from the 
other colonies. Then they think they can easily 
dispose of us. But Washington will do his 
utmost to defeat this plan. General Schuyler is 
at Albany now, making every effort to secure 
reinforcements for the Northern army.” 

pray he may succeed,” said Mrs. Wells, 
whose face, not long ago that of a blooming 
matron, was now seamed with far more anxious 
wrinkles than her years warranted. 

Burgoyne was encamped on the east shore of the 
Hudson, opposite Saratoga. On August eleventh 
he detached a force made up of Hessians, 
Indians, Tories familiar with the region, and 
Captain Fraser s corps of skilled marksmen, 
with orders to march upon Bennington fort, 
where the American stores of food, ammunition, 
arms, and live stock were kept, and seize all 
supplies there found. The whole country around 


DARK DAYS. 


265 


was also to be scoured for provisions, horses, 
and cattle. This expedition was led by the 
Hessian, Colonel Baum. 

Baum’s orders were, after the capture of Ben- 
nington, to cross the Green Mountains to the 
Connecticut River, descend upon Brattleboro, 
and thence march to Albany to join Burgoyne 
in that city, where the general confidently ex- 
pected soon to be. 

The plan was to surprise Bennington. But 
as the heavily dressed and slow Hessians plodded 
clumsily along over bad roads in the August 
heat, Bennington received word of their approach, 
and at once took active measures for defence. 
Couriers were despatched in every direction 
summoning help. General Stark and Colonel 
Seth Warner, with a body of militiamen from 
Vermont and New Hampshire, went at once to 
Bennington. 

The morning of August fourteenth the Wellses 
were surprised to see Lieutenant Tertius Taylor 
of Charlemont riding up to their door in hot 
haste, his horse dripping with sweat. Colonel 
Wells instantly rushed out to meet him and 
learn his errand. 

Colonel,” cried Taylor, we ’ve just had 
word that the British are marching on Benning- 


266 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

ton ! Stark has sent word for every man that 
can handle a gun to come to the rescue ! ’’ 

will start at once,” said Colonel Wells. 
‘‘ David and I will alarm the people hereabouts. 
You had best take a fresh horse here, and ride on 
to Deerfield and Greenfield, to notify the people 
there. I will get as many as possible of my men 
together and start for Bennington this afternoon.” 

Then indeed there was haste and excitement 
in the Wells family. There was no thought, 
even in Mrs. Wells’s heart, of trying to hold the 
men back in this great crisis. A rushing about, 
a hasty gathering of needed supplies, a seizing 
of arms, with hardly time for a hurried farewell, 
and the colonel and David were off. 

Who knows if we shall ever see them again,” 
was the secret thought in every heart, as the 
family stood watching the departing forms of 
father and son. 

Like scenes were taking place in many a 
family throughtout Western New England. At 
Pittsfield, Parson Allen, after reading the call 
for aid from Bennington to his flock, urged the 
people to go. 

We have no one to lead us,” was the reply. 

I ’ll lead you myself,” said the valiant par- 
son ; and he did. Praying, believing, and fight- 


DARK DATS. 267 

ing, Parson Allen led his men to valiant service 
in the Battle of Bennington. 

In Coleraine, some of the minutemen heard 
the firing of the cannon at Bennington, and 
hurriedly rallying as many as possible of their 
company, marched off to the scene of fighting. 

A number of men from Northfield were in 
the Battle of Bennington. Moses Field was 
lieutenant of their company, which was held in 
reserve until the latter part of the day. 

Field noticed a horse and wagon, the wagon 
filled with red-coated British officers apparently 
in consultation, up the road at some distance. 
Lieutenant Field was a noted marksman. He 
managed, under cover of a large oak, to get 
within range of these officers, and fired several 
shots, well aimed. 

When the Northfield company returned to 
camp after the battle, the ground where the 
wagon had stood was covered with blood, and 
Colonel Baum lay mortally wounded in a block- 
house near by. Lieutenant Field always believed 
that one of his shots brought Baum down. 

Lieutenant Field’s father, at work in Bennett’s 
Meadow in Northfield with his younger sons, 
plainly heard the reports of the cannon during 
the Bennington battle. The father said: 


268 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

A battle is going on. I have a boy in it. 
I can’t work/’ and went home, to suffer untold 
anxiety until the next day brought news of the 
victory and his son’s safety. 

The Fifth Hampshire, or as many of its men 
as could be summoned in a hurry, marched, the 
afternoon of the day the alarm was received, out 
through Shelburne and Charlemont, and was 
joined as it marched by men from Charlemont 
and Myrifield. A forced march was made, with 
all possible despatch, over the Hoosac by the old 
Cold River trail, and thence on to Bennington. 

Colonel Wells and his regiment reached Ben- 
nington before sunset, late in the afternoon of 
August sixteenth, in time to join Stark in the 
repulse and pursuit of the troops under Brey- 
man, who had been sent by Burgoyne to rein- 
force Baum. 

Night fell, and Bennington was saved ! In 
the meeting-house on the village common upon 
the hilltop were shut up six hundred and ninety- 
twD British prisoners, of whom a large part 
were Hessians, while the battle-field on the 
shores of the Walloomsack was strewn with 
the bodies of the wounded, the dying, and the 
dead. 

The men from Coleraine and many another 


DARK DAYS. 


269 


town came pouring into Bennington during that 
night and the following day, too late for the 
battle, but not too late to glory in the defeat of 
the British, and to gaze with unbounded interest 
and curiosity on the captured Hessians and “ red 
coats confined in the village meeting-house. 

When night ended the pursuit of the British, 
Colonel W ells and his regiment encamped on the 
Batten Kill, where they were joined later by the 
Deerfield company under Captain Joseph Steb- 
bins, and by others belonging to the regiment. 
From thence the regiment marched to Fort 
Edward, to cut off any retreat Burgoyne might 
attempt towards the north. 

This timely victory, won single-handed by 
the farmers of Vermont, New Hampshire, and 
Western Massachusetts, was one of the most 
effective and far-reaching in its consequences of 
all the battles of the war. It showed not only 
that the plain Yankee farmer folk could and 
would fight, but did much to dissipate the dread 
of King George’s hired mercenaries, the Hes- 
sians. General Stark truly said : 

Had our people been Alexanders or Charleses 
of Sweden, they could not have behaved better.” 

When the news reached Shelburne, great was 
the relief and the rejoicing. 


270 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

I suppose father and David will be at home 
again, right away,” said Israel, who sorely felt 
the need of stronger help in the hay and harvest 
fields. 

^^Not likely,” said Uncle Jed, who had 
brought over the glad tidings. You see, it ’s 
this way. Burgoyne ’s scotched, but he is n’t 
killed yet. He is pushing on down the Hudson, 
expecting Howe and his army to meet him, if 
he can only hold out long enough. They said 
over at Nims’s tavern last night that Washing- 
ton has written to all the brigadier generals in 
Massachusetts and Connecticut flaming appeals, 
urging them to march for Saratoga with every 
man they can muster. More men are going 
right away, from all around here. Every man 
in Shelburne able to tote a gun will be off. You 
will not see anything of the colonel yet awhile, 
you may depend on that.” 

I feel that he and David ought to stay at 
the front, much as we need and want them at 
home,” said Mrs. Wells. ^^That is the only 
place for them in such a crisis as this.” 

I tell Minervy I don’t know but I ought to 
turn out myself,” said poor lame old Uncle Jed. 

But she just poohs when I talk of enlisting ; 
seems to think I would n’t make no great of a 


DARK DATS. 


271 


soldier. My hand may shake, and my eyesight 
is n t what it used to be/’ said Uncle Jed, his 
dim eyes lighting with the fire of youth, “ but I 
tell you what, you just put me behind a tree 
with my old flintlock, and a good branch to rest 
it on, and I snum, I believe I could pick off a 
few of them Hessians yet.” 

Of course you could, Uncle Jed,” said Mary. 


CHAPTER XXIL 


THE COUNTKY AROUSED. 

M oved by Washington’s appeals, and a 
vivid sense of the pressing necessity of 
repelling Burgoyne’s forces and preventing his 
union with Howe’s army, hundreds of Massa- 
chusetts men from all parts of the colony were 
marching to Saratoga to join the army there, 
now under the command of General Gates, 
who had superseded Schuyler by an unjust 
order of Congress, just as Schuyler had every- 
thing in train for success. 

Northampton was excited on August twenty- 
second by the arrival of one hundred and fifty 
of the Hessians captured at Bennington who 
had been sent there to be held as prisoners of 
war. They were not confined, however, but let 
out on parole, and set to work, and were 
reported to be well content with their lot. 

These Hessians had been impressed into ser- 
vice and dragged away thousands of miles to a 
strange land, to risk their lives in a cause about 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 


273 


which they knew little and cared less. The 
change, therefore, from marching and fighting, 
to cultivating Northampton's fertile meadows, 
was to them most welcome. Their help proved 
timely, in the absence of so many men in the 
war. 

In marching to Northampton, these Hessians 
crossed Hoosac Mountain, stopping for a meal 
at Captain Othniel Taylor's tavern in Charle- 
mont. Here several contrived to conceal them- 
selves. When the main body had gone on, 
they came out from their hiding, and remained 
for some time on the Taylor farm, becoming 
finally good American citizens. 

Early in September the Wellses were sur- 
prised by a flying visit from Colonel Wells. 

I have come over the mountain," said Colo- 
nel Wells, ^^to stir up all the men from this 
region to join our forces at Saratoga. It is 
a vital matter for us to deal one last tre- 
mendous blow there." 

‘^It seems as if every man around here had 
gone to the war that could be spared," said 
Mrs. Wells. 

We must have every able-bodied man," said 
the colonel. It is now or never with us.” 

Colonel Wells rode about over the hills, 
18 


274 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

stirring up the people all through the northern 
part of Hampshire County. 

The women, imbued with the very spirit of 
the Spartan mothers, said, ‘ We will harvest 
the oats and care for the work that is pressing ; 
go and fight for your country.’ And through- 
out this vicinity, from the Vermont line as far 
south as Savoy, he took back with him fifteen 
hundred additional men.” ^ 

From Coleraine went forty-six of her minute- 
men under Captain Hugh McClellan, who did 
good service. From little Myrifield went Rev. 
Cornelius Jones, its minister and first settler, 
and his son Reuben. The latter was killed at 
the Battle of Stillwater. 

Springfield, from its inland and central situa- 
tion, and its distance from points liable to be 
attacked, had been made a depot for military 
stores and a place to repair arms. A few can- 
non had also been cast there.^ The work was 
done on Main Street. 

General Gates sent a courier to General Mat- 
toon of Amherst, ordering him to bring these 
cannon to Saratoga. General Mattoon, with a 
small body of men, rode over from Amherst to 

1 Extract from “Early Settlers of Coleraine,** by Charles 
H. McClellan. * The beginning of Springfield’s armory. 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 275 

Springfield on Sunday, took the cannon as 
ordered, and hauled them to Saratoga, no slight 
undertaking. 

Captain Isaac Newton of Greenfield raised a 
company there, and hastened to Saratoga. The 
women of his family hurried to card and spin 
wool, weave cloth, cut and make him a suit, so 
that, when the company marched off to the war. 
Captain Newton appeared arrayed in a full suit 
of white woollen, homemade, and afterwards was 
wont to boast : 

I was the best dressed officer in the field.” 

All the more important was the repulse of 
Burgoyne felt to be when tidings came of the 
defeat of Washington at the Battle of Brandy- 
wine, the retreat of his army to Germantown, 
and the triumphant entry of Howe’s army 
into Philadelphia, whence Congress had fled to 
Yorktown. 

The condition of the Wells family at this 
time is a fair picture of many another in those 
anxious days. One word suffices to tell their 
story, — the word ^^work.” 

Only by the incessant industry of the women 
and young boys could the necessary labor of the 
farm be kept even partly done. Mrs. Wells and 
her daughters were obliged to help in the hay 


276 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

and harvest fields and in the milking, besides 
their hard toil indoors. The hum of the 
spinning-wheel, the whack of the flax-brake, the 
snapping of the clock-reel, resounded constantly 
on the farm. 

I must say,” said Lucinda, late one pleasant 
September afternoon, when she had been hard 
at work all day, am tired of spinning. I 
wish I could go off in the woods somewhere and 
live a wild, free life with the Indians; like 
them, anyway — where I should never see a 
spinning-wheel again ! ” 

I ’d like to go with you,” said Eunice from 
the flax-wheel. 

Her mother, who was weaving cloth at the 
loom, plying the shuttle deftly too and fro, 
said : 

Lucinda, you know how it is. Every little 
while comes a call for blankets or clothing for 
the soldiers, and we must be ready to meet it.^ 
Our poor soldiers need more than we can give. 
We have to fight at home for our country at 
the spinning-wheel, while your father and David 
are fighting with guns. But you girls have 
worked hard and faithfully to-day, and I know 
you are tired. You had best stop now and take 

^ Appendix H. 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 


277 


a little run outdoors, before it is time to get 
supper.*’ 

Mrs. Wells was tired too, but, mother-like, did 
not think of resting herself. 

It ’s no matter about me ; I can get along,” 
she would have said had any one tried to 
sympathize with her. 

Gladly the girls deserted work and went 
outdoors. 

Let *s take some baskets, Eunice,” said Lu- 
cinda, ^^and go over in the pasture and see if 
we can find some blueberries.” 

The girls drew long breaths of the pure 
mountain air as they walked on. 

Oh, how beautiful it is outdoors ! ” ex- 
claimed Eunice. 

^^Look down towards Greenfield,” said Lu- 
cinda. It seems to let you out, does n’t it, to 
look far off over the valley ? See how blue and 
clear the Montague hills stand out ! ” 

The sky was a deep, intense blue, and all 
around the hilltops rose up against it, their trees, 
touched with autumn tints, contrasting bril- 
liantly with the sky’s azure. The many hem- 
locks and pines, abounding in the woods, and 
the white trunks of the birches, intensified this 
glow of color. 


278 BOYS AND GIKLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Blueberries were still to be found in the 
pastures, and the girls were filling their baskets, 
when they heard some one coming, whistling 
Yankee Doodle.” 

There come William and Walter,” said 
Eunice, looking down the hill. I wonder why 
they are coming to the pasture so early.” 

The boys each carried long switches, and were 
whipping the grass as they walked, ruthlessly 
snapping off the plumy heads of the golden-rod 
and purple asters. 

^^You needn’t say a word, Lucinda,” said 
William, as they reached the girls. Mother 
said Walter and I had worked so well, carding 
wool and picking up apples, we might start for 
the cows early enough to go over and look at 
our traps. So, now.” 

Let ’s go with them,” said Eunice. I 
have n’t been over to the farther pasture this 
long time.” 

Lucinda was pleased to take a longer walk, 
and the four went on together, up hill and 
through the woods. The sun, low in the 
west, pierced the thinning foliage with long 
shafts of yellow light, gilding the heavy green 
moss which everywhere covered logs and rocks. 
The air was fragrant with the odor of the 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 279 

sweet fern, which abounded in the side-hill 
pasture. 

William was quite skilful in trapping, for his 
age, and Walter liked to go with him, and help, 
and talk about our traps.” 

Perhaps I shall get another marten to-day,” 
said William. 

The side of the barn already bore one marten 
skin tacked up to dry, destined to help make 
William a warm winter cap. 

But the marten trap was still empty. Farther 
on, the boys had set a trap for wild turkeys, 
which were still quite plenty in Shelburne. They 
had worked hard building a pen of small logs, 
with a door so arranged that the boys were sure 
a turkey, feeding beneath, would drop the door, 
and so fasten itself in. Then the boys had scat- 
tered a trail of oats along for some rods, leading 
into the pen, where a last beguiling handful was 
thrown. 

But as no turkey had deigned to enter the 
elaborate trap and be caught, Israel made fun 
of the boys’ work. When he came in to dinner 
he would say : 

What, nothing but salt pork ? I thought we 
should certainly have roast turkey to-day from 
that wonderful trap the boys built. I tell you 


280 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

what, William, I ’ll promise to give you a silver 
shilling for the first turkey you catch in that 
trap.” 

As the young folks drew near the turkey trap 
to-day, William’s ears were greeted by a delight- 
ful sound. 

Gobble, gobble, gobble ! ” 

We ’ve caught one, William ! ” cried Walter, 
should say so,” said William, all smiles. 

A big gobbler, too.” 

^^What good luck!” said Lucinda. ^^We 
haven’t tasted fresh meat since Mr. Ransome 
sent us over that spare rib when he killed his 
hog.” 

Such was the neighborly custom of the time. 
The farmers, when killing pigs, sheep, or lambs, 
sent portions to the nearest neighbors, who were 
careful to return the favor when they did their 
own slaughtering. This enabled all to enjoy 
fresh meat oftener than would otherwise have 
been possible. 

Mother and Mary will be overjoyed,” said 
Eunice. But I ’m not going to stay here to see 
you kill the poor thing,” she added, looking at 
the beautiful wild bird, gobbling and frantically 
fluttering, in its efforts to escape from its pen and 
its doom. 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 


281 


Nor I, either/’ said Lucinda. ‘‘ We ’ll go back 
and finish picking berries. We shall have plenty 
to eat with our bread and milk for supper 
to-night.” 

The girls returned to the berry patch. By 
and by they heard the cows coming down the 
hill. Behind them walked William, proudly 
bearing his big gobbler by the legs. 

Let me carry him now, William. He ’s part 
mine. It ’s my trap, too, you know. I helped 
build it,” begged Walter. 

You ’re too Mttle. His head would drag on 
the ground, and he ’s so heavy it would make 
your arms ache. He weighs as much as fifteen 
pounds, I ’ll bet,” said William. 

Walter had to content himself with waving 
his long switch about, and hollering ” at the 
cows. 

I shall dun Israel for that shilling the first 
thing,” said William. He will have to pay it.” 

^^Half of it is mine,” said Walter. 

But, when Israel came in that night from the 
field, he said : 

Mother, my head aches so, I don’t want any 
supper. I ’ll go to bed as soon as the milking is 
done.” 

His mother looked anxiously at the lad. Al- 


282 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 


ways she had the feeling that he was not strong. 
And Israel, not yet sixteen, had been doing fully 
a man’s work all the summer and fall. His face 
was flushed and his eyes heavy. 

Laying her hand tenderly on his forehead, 
his mother said : 

Your head does feel hot. Go and lie down 
right away. I will help the others milk. But 
try and eat a little supper. The girls have 
picked some nice blueberries.’’ 

No, I don’t want any supper,” said Israel. 

William said something about his shilling, but 
Israel was too ill to notice, as he left for the 
shop, to tumble into bed. 

Mrs. Wells’s heart was so heavy with anxiety 
about Israel that she did not seem nearly so 
pleased about his turkey as William had expected. 

I wish your father and David were here, to 
share our roast turkey,” she said. It seems 
almost wrong for us to be enjoying it, when 
perhaps they are short of any kind of rations. 
I wish we could hear from them.” 

^‘I hope Israel isn’t going to be sick,” she 
added presently. 

Now, mother,” said Mary, you ’re always 
worrying about Israel. It is only a headache. 
He will be all right to-morrow.” 


THE COUNTRY AROUSED. 283 

After supper Mrs. Wells prepared a home 
remedy for the headache. She put a shovelful 
of wood ashes from the hearth into a pitcher of 
cold water. When it had settled, she took it to 
the shop and roused Israel, who drank it readily, 
being very thirsty. 

William and Eunice were playing hull gull, 
how many,” with corn kernels, after doing their 
evening work, for a little while before going to 
bed. 

‘^Israel looks really sick,” said his mother, 
when she came in and resumed her knitting. 

You will see, mother, that he will be all 
right to-morrow morning,” said the cheerful 
Mary. 


CHAPTER XXIIL 


A VICTORY. 

I N spite of Mary’s confident predictions, the 
next day saw Israel no better. He had a 
high fever, and stayed in bed, his mother giving 
him a good dose of hot thoroughwort tea on 
general principles. 

It will not hurt him, if it does no good,” she 
said. 

Israel is only tired, he has worked so hard,” 
said Mary. He will be all right after a little 
rest.” 

I hope so,” said the anxious mother. 

The boys’ turkey was roasting before a big fire 
in the fireplace. It was attached to an iron spit, 
which hung at the end of a long, stout string 
fastened to an iron hook under the mantlepiece. 

Eunice, her face fiushed by the fire, was tend- 
ing the turkey, turning it from time to time, 
and often basting it with the fat that oozed out 
and dripped into a pan set beneath. 


A VICTORY. 


285 


How perfectly delicious it does smell ! ” 
said Eunice. What a pity father and David 
could n’t be here.” 

The turkey was nearly done, and the table set 
for dinner, when Uncle Jed came limping in, his 
wrinkled face beaming. 

I ’ve come over to tell you the great news,” 
he said. There ’s been a big battle fought at 
Bemis’s Heights, near Saratoga. Our men were 
led by Arnold, — General Benedict Arnold ; you 
know what a terrible fighter he is.” 

Go on, go on,” cried Mrs. Wells, unable to 
bear the suspense. 

Well, after a lot of hard fighting, our men 
got the better of the British, repulsed them, and 
prevented them from reaching our camp. You 
see Burgoyne set out to surround our army. He 
found he had bit off more than he could chew, I 
guess,” said Uncle Jed, chuckling. 

Mrs. Wells wanted to ask if any report of the 
dead and wounded had come, but her heart failed 
her. 

How did you hear ? ” she asked. 

Lieutenant Robert Wilson brought the news 
over from Albany way. He says our boys are 
in great spirits now, and think they can finish up 
Burgoyne before long. Our Shelburne boys were 


286 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

in the thickest of the fight, but no one was killed, 
so far as Wilson could hear.” 

Tears filled Mrs. Wells’s eyes as she mur- 
mured, Thanks be to God ! ” Then she added : 

Uncle Jed, you must sit down and help us eat 
the boys’ turkey. The news you have brought 
will make this a real Thanksgiving dinner for 
us all.” 

I don’t care if I do,” said Uncle Jed with 
alacrity, his nose as well as his eyes having 
already assured him of the turkey’s deliciousness. 

No one would have believed that two mortal 
boys could have consumed the amount of roast 
turkey that William and Walter managed to 
devour. The turkey was tempting; moreover 
it was our turkey,” caught in our trap.” The 
wishbone was carefully saved, and hung on a 
hook by the fireplace to dry. When dry, the 
boys would pull it, and wish. 

shall wish for a gun of my own, like 
David’s,” said Walter. 

I shall wish that we may whip the British,” 
said William. 

Israel will have to pay us that shilling as 
soon as he gets well,” remarked William in the 
course of the dinner. 

Poor boy ! ” said his mother. I don’t know 


A VICTORY. 


287 


where he will get it, I am sure. Shillings don’t 
grow on the bushes these days.” 

^^Why, is Israel sick?” asked Uncle Jed. 

I noticed he was n’t about, but thought perhaps 
he had gone to Greenfield to mill. What is the 
matter ? ” 

After hearing Israel’s symptoms Uncle Jed 
said : 

There ’s a lot of sickness in town just now. 
Folks seem to be taken just as Israel was. Some 
say it ’s because we ’ve had such a wet season, 
and there ’s so much standing water about every- 
where. But, whatever ’s the cause, it’s very 
sickly.” 

This increased Mrs. Wells’s anxiety, all the 
more because Lucinda began to complain of 
headache, and she herself felt far from well, 
although she tried to conceal her feelings and 
keep about as usual. 

Things changed rapidly from worse to worse. 
In a few more days every member of the Wells 
family except Eunice was ill with the prevailing 
distemper, which swept over the whole town. 

Eunice, only thirteen years old, was now the 
only dependence of the family. The illness was 
so general in town, it was impossible to get help. 
Mrs. Wells took William and Walter into a 


288 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

trundle bed in her room, where, ill as she was 
herself, she managed to look after them and so 
relieve Eunice somewhat. 

Fortunately Israel was now a little better, and 
able to crawl over to the house and lie on the 
settle by the fire, where he could help Eunice by 
watching anything cooking in the kettles hang- 
ing on the crane. 

Eunice did the little cooking needed, brought 
up from the spring all the water, milked the 
cows, did, in short, whatever was done, until 
finally the child reached the last point of fatigue. 

Uncle Jed came into the kitchen one afternoon 
and found Eunice standing by the table, dish- 
cloth in hand, trying to wash the dinner dishes, 
so exhausted that she had fallen fast asleep 
standing at her work. 

Poor little gal ! exclaimed Uncle Jed. 

He took hold of Eunice by the shoulders. 
She woke with a start, looking wildly about, not 
realizing at first where she was. 

‘^You go right upstairs and lie down, and 
take a good nap,” said Uncle Jed. I ’m going 
to wash these dishes, and stay here a while and 
help you out. Minervy and I have kept well so 
far, thank the Lord, and Minervy, she said to 
me: ^ Jed, you’d better step over and see how 


A VICTORY. 


289 


the Wellses are getting along.^ It’s lucky I 
happened in just as I did.” 

Never was helper more welcome than Uncle 
Jed. After that, he came over daily to help, 
until Israel was once more able to work. 

Hard though this trial was, the Wellses felt 
that they ought not to complain, when all their 
number recovered. For the epidemic wrought 
terrible havoc. In two months seventy people 
died in Shelburne out of a population of a few 
hundred. As it was the harvest season and 
many men were absent in the army, it was 
difficult to procure help to care for the sick and 
bury the dead. Dr. Long, who was absent as sur- 
geon in the army, obtained leave of absence and 
came home to do what he could. 

Well might Mrs. Wells say, when the middle 
of October saw her children all gathered again 
around the supper table : 

^‘Children, we must praise God for all His 
loving kindness. In His mercy He has spared 
us, when so many have been called to mourn.” 

At the family devotions that evening, which 
she conducted in her husband’s absence, she read 
the 118th Psalm, and made a devout prayer of 
sincere thanksgiving. 

News now came from the army that filled all 

19 


290 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEYEN. 

hearts with joy and helped many a sick one to 
recover. On October seventh, after a prolonged 
and hotly fought battle, Burgoyne’s troops had 
been overwhelmingly defeated at Stillwater. 

“ They say that our men routed the enemy, 
horse, foot, and dragoon, took a lot of prisoners 
and all the British field artillery, and that 
Burgoyne is retreating toward Saratoga,'’ said 
Uncle Jed, who brought over the good news. 

This gleam of success brightened not a little 
the dark days in Shelburne. But better news 
was soon to follow. 

Israel, accompanied by William, had gone 
down to the grist mill on Green River in Green- 
field, their horses laden with bags of grain to 
be ground. While they were absent, Lucinda 
and Eunice, who were out dampening a web of 
linen cloth laid on the grass to bleach, came in, 
saying : 

Mother, we hear guns firing down in Green- 
field. And we think we hear drums and a noise 
like shouting. Something must have happened." 

I wish the boys were at home," said Mrs. 
Wells. 

It seemed a long time before the boys were 
at last seen riding up the hill. As soon as they 
noticed their mother and the girls watching for 


A yiCTORY. 


291 


them, Israel and William waved their caps above 
their heads, shouting : Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

^‘What is it?^’ cried the girls, running to 
meet them. 

Burgoyne has surrendered ! ” shouted both 
boys together. 

Is it possible ? ” cried Mrs. Wells. 

Yes, his whole army is captured, and seven 
thousand stands of arms, and quantities of cloth- 
ing, tents, and stores of all sorts ; exactly what 
our army needs so badly.” 

People in Greenfield are all stirred up,” 
said William. ‘^They’re out on the streets, 
and the drums are beating, and the flags are run 
up and waving, and everybody ’s shouting. I 'm 
glad we happened to be down there to see it all.” 

courier from Saratoga rode to Westfield 
with the news,” said Israel. The Westfield 
folks despatched an express rider to Northamp- 
ton, and the Northampton people sent word to 
Deerfield, and John Sheldon rode over from 
Deerfield to Greenfield to bring the news there.” 

Don ’t unsaddle your horses, boys,” said Mrs. 
Wells. After supper you had best ride over 
into the centre and spread the news. It is too 
good to keep.” 

The boys were only too delighted to ride forth 


292 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

on sucli a mission as this. It is human nature 
to like to tell a bit of news. But when it was 
such joyful tidings, who could blame the boys 
for hastening their horses over the hills, in the 
frosty October moonlight, as they cantered on 
to tell the Nimses, the Longs, the Taylors, the 
Fiskes, and the rest, not forgetting Uncle Jed, 
that Burgoyne had surrendered, and that the at- 
tempt of the British to sever New England from 
the other colonies had signally failed ? 

The boys felt almost as if they had fought the 
battle themselves, as their horses’ hoofs rang 
over the frosty ground and they galloped on in 
the clear moonlight, bearing their joyful tidings, 
Burgoyne has surrendered ! ” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


IN CONCLUSION. 

O N October 25, 1777, Abigail Adams wrote 
that to Boston “ had come the joyful news 
of the surrender of Burgoyne and all his army 
to our victorious troops. — Burgoyne is expected 
in by the middle of the week. — Must not the 
vaporing Burgoyne, who, it is said, possesses 
great sensibility, be humbled to the dust? — I 
have heard it proposed that he should take up 
his quarters in the Old South, but believe he 
will not be permitted to come to this town.” 

There were not wanting people to wonder if 
Burgoyne had found the elbow room ” which 
seemed to him so easy to attain when he first 
landed in Boston. His troops were to be quar- 
tered at Cambridge, and the people of Massachu- 
setts were vastly interested in the passing of 
Burgoyne and his army across the state.^ 

The army began its march October nineteenth, 
when it left Saratoga, crossed the Hudson in 

^ Appendix I. 


294 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

boats, and went to Schaghticoke, then to Lans- 
ingburg, and thence over the Hoosac Mountains. 
A severe storm of rain, hail, and snow, with a 
cold wind, raged about the prisoners as they 
traversed the wild and desolate mountain passes, 
and their sufferings were intense. 

The army apparently divided, the two sections 
taking slightly differing routes, probably for 
convenience in feeding and quartering so large a 
body of men in the little villages along their 
route. One division reached West Springfield 
on the twenty-ninth, and rested there over the 
thirtieth. The men encamped on West Spring- 
field common, while General Riedesel crossed the 
Connecticut to Springfield to arrange for provi- 
sions for his men. The Springfield people were 
not over cordial to the Hessian general, and 
wholly declined to quarter his troops. They 
therefore marched on to Palmer. 

Burgoyne, with a part of his army, passed 
through Hadley on October twenty-sixth. On 
that day, Mrs. Charles Phelps of Hadley recorded 
in her diary : 

Our whole family left home to see the Reg- 
ulars pass, but only babe and me.’^ 

Colonel Porter of Hadley, who had been serv- 
ing in the campaign against Burgoyne, invited 


IN CONCLUSION. 


295 


that general to stay at his home while in town. 
The soldiers, meantime, were encamped on Aqua 
Vitae meadow. On leaving, Burgoyne presented 
General Porter with a sword, in recognition of 
his courteous hospitality. This sword is still 
carefully treasured in Hadley by the descendants 
of General Porter. 

Through Pelham the defeated army marched 
to Worcester, and thence to Cambridge. In the 
towns wherever the army stopped, men, women, 
and children thronged from far and near, more 
especially to gaze upon the once dreaded Hes- 
sians, and the prisoners were annoyed at finding 
themselves stared at as if they had been wild 
animals on exhibition. Many were also desirous 
of seeing a real lord ” or marquis.'' 

Along the way, as opportunity offered, some 
of the Hessians dropped out of the ranks, con- 
cealed themselves, and remained to become per- 
manent settlers. Many a town has on its records 
names of these quondam Hessian prisoners who 
had no desire to return to their native land, but 
preferred to become American citizens. 

In November, Colonel Wells and his regiment 
were discharged and came home. 

How different everything seems since father 
and David came home ! " said Mary one day. 


296 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

We have almost as much to do, but somehow 
it all seems easier.’’ 

It is because the burden of responsibility is 
lifted,” said Mrs. Wells. ^^We feel underneath 
all the time that your father is here, and so all 
must go well. No one can tell the difference it 
makes to me.” 

That Israel was relieved goes without saying. 
His father was pleased to find that Israel, under 
the pressure of responsibility in his absence, had 
developed a greater degree of capacity and relia- 
bility, and was much more manly. 

There is considerable truth in the title of 
that little story book of Walter’s, ^ Hard Things 
Are Good For Folks,’ ” said the colonel to his 
wife. Look at Israel. He is more of a man 
than I ever expected to see him.” 

Israel will be all right, give him time 
enough,” said his mother. 

Immediately after his return, Colonel Wells 
had to devote himself to the hard task of raising 
money to pay his soldiers for their services in 
the late campaign. Even the men who had 
served at Fort Ticonderoga in the early summer 
had not been paid. 

Money was almost impossible to obtain. Most 
business transactions were by barter. The Con- 


IN CONCLUSION. 


297 

tinental paper money was steadily deteriorating, 
and prices of all articles soared in value. But 
somehow Colonel Wells succeeded in raising the 
required amount, as sundry time-stained scraps 
of yellow paper still held by his descendants 
testify. Here is one : 

“Shelburne, Nov. 11 1777 . 

“Received of Colonel David Wells of Shelburne 
for my Services and Company in the Service of the 
United States at Mount Independence last summer 
three hundred thirty pounds four shillings sixpence, 
I say received by me. 

“ Timothy Childs, Captain.” 

In spite of the incessant spinning and weaving 
demanded of the women of the time to answer 
the calls from the army, besides providing for 
the families at home, Mary Wells had managed, 
by unceasing industry, to make her “ setting 
out’’; that is, she had spun, woven, and made the 
necessary sheets, blankets, tablecloths, towels, 
etc., also bedquilts and comfortables, besides her 
own clothing, and in October, 1778, she was 
married to John Wells. He had bought a farm 
in the little new town of Myrifield up among the 
Hoosac Mountains. The wedding was a great 
event in the Wells family, and for the young 
people of Shelburne, many of whom rode in 


298 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

couples well out over the western hills to escort 
the bridal couple on their way to their new 
home.^ 

About the same time Colonel Wells built the 
first frame house in Shelburne, on the southeast 
part of his farm, which he had given to his 
oldest son David as his portion, when David was 
married to Phoebe Hubbard, sister of the min- 
ister, Eev. Robert Hubbard. Thus time was 
bringing its inevitable changes into the once 
large Wells family. Only five children were 
now left at home. 

It is not the purpose of this book to follow 
the history of our country through the Revolu- 
tionary War. The country could hardly have 
endured to the end had its people realized the 
prolonged struggle before them. Hope springs 
eternal in the human breast,” and each year the 
Americans had confidently hoped that the next 
would surely see the end of the war. 

The surrender of Burgoyne practically ter- 
minated the warfare in New England. The 
scene of the struggle was now transferred to the 
Southern States. But many New Englanders 
were still in the army, and at times made great 
sacrifices to aid the nation’s cause. Captain 
1 Appendix J. 


IN CONCLUSION. 


299 


Sylvanus Rice of Charlemont mortgaged his 
farm to raise money to pay his company when 
they marched to the aid of New London. Lieu- 
tenant John Bolton of Coleraine, who was chief 
engineer in the construction department at West 
Point, finding in 1779 that his men, badly 
clothed and underfed, had received no pay 
for a long time, and were almost in a state of 
mutiny, came home, and mortgaged his valu- 
able property in Coleraine to obtain money to pay 
them. Many similar stories of patriotic devotion 
could be told. 

On May 7, 1779, Shelburne voted to “ take 
the oath of fidelity and allegiance to the United 
States of America.” The new nation was born 
and named. 

It is difficult now to realize the hardship 
caused by the depreciation of the Continental 
money. On July 4, 1780, this little farming 
town of Shelburne voted '' to raise 5000 pounds 
to defray Town Charges,” and in November of 
the same year it was voted ^Hhis Town will 
raise 7000 pounds money to purchase this Town’s 
quota of beef required by the General Court.” 

There was a constant demand upon the poor 
little towns for beef and other supplies for 
the army. In January, 1781, Shelburne voted 


300 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTY-SEYEN. 

raise the town's quota of beef, the first 
moiety in beef, the second in grain or beef, and 
that Lieut. Robert Wilson be paid 158 pounds 
for his trouble and expense in purchasing and 
driYing the beef to Northampton." In June, 
1779, Congress ordered a large quantity of shirts, 
shoes, and stockings for the army, of which 
Springfield was to furnish sixty-six, Northamp- 
ton sixty -four, and so on. In May, 1780, came 
a like order, with a call for half as many blank- 
ets as of the other articles. 

Meantime the Continental currency continued 
to depreciate, until in September, 1781, Shel- 
burne town meeting Yoted that “ wheras the 
Continental money is dead," delinquent tax- 
payers ^^may pay in wheat at six shillings 
a bushel, deliYering same at the constable’s 
dwelling house." At this time a saying be- 
came common, still sometimes applied to any- 
thing absolutely Yalueless, It ’s not worth a 
continental." 

On October 17, 1781, the surrender of Lord 
Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown filled 
the country with joy. Congress issued a procla- 
mation for a day of general thanksgiYing and 
prayer, in acknowledgment of this signal inter- 
position of DiYine ProYidence." 


IN CONCLUSION. 


301 


Not until th^ spring of 1783 was peace form- 
ally concluded. On November 3, 1783, Wash- 
ington delivered his farewell address to his army, 
which was then disbanded. The weary struggle 
of seven years was ended, independence was 
won, and the new country, small and poor, 
impoverished indeed to the last degree by the 
war, its people only a few millions scattered 
along the Atlantic Coast, faced the world, ready 
to begin its career. 

Colonel David Wells lived to be ninety-one 
years old, dying in 1814, his mind unimpaired 
to the end. An obituary notice says of him : 

He was distinguished by an activity which 
is rarely to be met with among men of his 
station. He took an active part in the revolu- 
tionary contest, and was one of those patriots 
who pledged their lives and fortunes in estab- 
lishing our national independence.’’ 

His wife died the following year. The chil- 
dren scattered in various directions, only the two 
youngest, William and Walter, remaining in 
Shelburne, where William lived on the old home- 
stead, in a frame house built by his father about 
1790, still standing, and Walter on a portion of 
the large original farm set off to him. Both 
were honored, useful, and public-spirited men. 


302 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Israel married and lived in Connecticut. In 
his old age, being left alone in the world, he 
came back to the home farm, and there passed 
his last years with William, where Uncle 
Israel’s” peculiarities afforded endless amuse- 
ment to the next generation of young people 
growing up on the old farm, — William’s 
children. 

Lucinda married a prosperous young farmer 
in Gill, a new town set off from the north part 
of Greenfield in 1793. 

After the war was ended, young Preserved 
Smith of Ashfield, the soldier of whom we had a 
glimpse marching to the war, succeeded, by his 
own exertions, in going through Brown Univer- 
sity at Providence. He then came to Shelburne 
to study for the ministry with Rev. Robert Hub- 
bard. Naturally, he visited in the family of his 
old commander. Colonel Wells, and equally of 
course, perhaps, he fell in love with Eunice, now 
a blooming maiden in the early twenties, a girl 
of sterling practical qualities and much strength 
of character. Rev. Preserved Smith was settled 
as minister over the church at Rowe (as Myri- 
field had recently named itself), and here he and 
his wife lived for nearly forty years, powers for 
good in all the region around. 


IN CONCLUSION. 


303 


Happy were the days when Colonel Wells and 
wife, or William or Walter and their wives, 
drove out to Eowe to visit Mary and Eunice in 
their pleasant homes. When Eunice came home 
to the old farm on an occasional visit, a Wells 
descendant has told the writer of the happy 
evenings he well remembered when father 
and Aunt Eunice/^ aided sometimes by Uncle 
Israel and Uncle Walter,” always brought out 
their song books and sang again the old songs 
together. 

Those days are ended, and the actors in the 
Revolution have long since passed away. But 
now that the United States is a great, powerful, 
prosperous nation, it is well that we should 
sometimes go back to the days of small things, 
to the humble beginnings, recall those times of 
struggle and poverty, of self-denial for a noble 
cause, and realize, with a deep gratitude akin to 
that of our forefathers, how God has led our 
nation on. 





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APPENDIX A. 


“The first meeting house was located on Trap 
Plain, at a point supposed to be central in the ‘ seven 
miles square grant ’ (now Greenfield and Gill). This 
locality was heavily wooded, and was much resorted 
to by local hunters. The old Indian spring a mile 
north on the stage road was particularly attractive to 
wild animals, and here a few years since was dug up 
one of James Corse’s bear traps.” James Corse was 
“ the historic hunter, trapper, and scout, a fit subject 
for the author of the Leatherstocking Tales. His 
common hunting-ground covered the Deerfield, Green, 
and Fall River valleys, up into southern Vermont. 
His traps were marked with three hacks, and he gen- 
erally kept two chained together.” — From the “ His- 
tory of Greenfield,” by Francis M. Thompson. 

Trap Plain is now called Four Corners, or Long’s 
Corners, and the electric cars whirl by there every 
half hour. A stone watering-trough with suitable 
inscription indicates the site of the town’s first 
meeting-house. 


20 


306 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 


APPENDIX B. 

“ There was no post-office in Williamstown in 1775, 
nor until twenty-two years later. At that time there 
were but four mail routes in the entire country : (1) 
the great seaboard route from Portland to Savannah ; 
(2) the route from New York via Albany and Montreal 
to Quebec ; (3) the inception of the route from Phila- 
delphia to Pittsburg; and (4) the ocean route from 
New York to Falmouth, England.” — From “Wil- 
liamstown and Williams College,” by Professor 
Arthur L. Perry. 


APPENDIX C. 

“ The whigs of Deerfield had heavy odds against 
them. Incense to the King from the fragrant Hyson 
filled the air. The minister, the judge, the sheriff, 
the esquire, the three doctors, the town clerk and 
treasurer, one store keeper, two of the three tavern 
keepers, most of those who had held commissions from 
the King in the late wars, and generally the young 
bloods who were looking forward to places of honor or 
office from royalty, were loyal to the source of power. 
A large proportion of the civil and military offices in 
other parts of Western Massachusetts were held by 
men of the same mind, and there were many ties of 


APPENDIX. 


307 


blood or marriage between these and the Tories of 
Deerfield.” — From the “History of Deerfield,” by 
George Sheldon. 


APPENDIX D. 

The population of Greenfield in 1776 was 735. 
Now it is nearly or quite ten thousand. “There 
were, in 1776, 176 houses, 6 mills, 220 horses, 18 
oxen &c ; ‘ carriages of all sorts — none.’ ” — From 
the “ History of Greenfield,” by Francis M. Thompson. 


APPENDIX E. 

As illustrating the experience of the Revolutionary 
soldiers the following extracts are given from the 
diary of Samuel King of Sutton, Mass., now in the pos- 
session of his descendant, Mr. J. H. Sanderson of 
Greenfield. It is difficult, in this age of steam and 
trolley cars and automobiles, for us to realize that, 
during the Revolution, the soldiers must always 
travel on foot. If a Massachusetts company went to 
reinforce the American army in Virginia, it must 
walk the whole distance, as the companies from Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia did when they came 
to help raise the siege of Boston. 


308 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

Samuel King was but seventeen years old when he 
“ was draughted to reinforce the Northern Army, in 
August, 1777, at Sutton.” 

“ Aug. 16, 1777. We met and expected to march, 
but did not. Aug. 17. Upwards of thirty of us 
paraded and marched to meeting together. 

“ Aug. 18, we marched to Charlton, arrived at Major 
Davies’s who gave us a good supper and breakfast.” 

After this, they marched from twenty-two to twenty- 
five miles daily, through Brookfield, Belchertown, 
Northampton, Chesterfield, a place which looks, in 
the time-stained manuscript, like “ Gageboro,” then 
to East Hoosac (North Adams) and Williamstown, 
reaching Bennington August 26th. 

“Aug. 26. We arrived at Bennington, and went 
into a large Barn. 

“Aug. 28. We marched onto a plain where was a 
house and barn which one company went into. The 
two other companies of us laid a few boards for a 
shelter. Our centrys took a man, said he came from 
the enemy, said they were at Saratoga. 

“ Aug. 80 and 31 we worked upon our Barracks. 

“Sept. 1. We moved to our barracks, which were 
made of poles and boards, where we were joined by 
two more companies. 

“Sept. 2 and 8. Nothing remarkable.” Later they 
marched to Pawlet. 

“ Sept. 9. We arrived at Pawlet and encamped in 
the woods. We made our huts of poles, and thatched 
them with Fox-tail which we cut up with our knives. 


APPENDIX. 309 

It rained very steady all night, however we did not 
get wet much. 

“ Sept. 28th. We left Skeensboro after having 
burned all the boats at the landing of Lake Cham- 
plain. We marched to Granville, and several of us 
lay around a stack of hay. I had a poor night of it, 
and lay very cold. 

“ Sept. 29. We arrived at Pawlet and went into our 
old brush tents. 

“ Oct. 2. We marched for Gen. Gates’s Army, eight 
of us having packs, guns and accoutrements to carry 
for twelve men. 

Oct. 6. We arrived at Gen. Gates’s Army encamped 
on Bemis’s Heights three miles above Stillwater. 
We had no sort of a shelter.” 

Oct. 7. After describing the battle, he says: “We 
stayed out until about ten o’clock (p. m.) when we 
had leave to return to our Barracks and cook what 
provisions we had and lay upon our arms, though 
part of us had no Barracks nor provisions.” 

Oct. 8. “ We turned out at 3 o’clock (A. M.) and 
went down towards the enemy’s line where we marched 
round till about noon, when a large detachment of us 
went to Saratoga in order to cut off the Enemy’s re- 
treat if they attempted it. We returned about dark. — 
This night I was obliged to lie out in the open air. 

“ Oct. 9. We drawed tents. However we had a 
tedious time of it, it being very windy and rainy. 
This night the Enemy retreated to Saratoga.” 

“ Oct. 17. Gen. Burgoyne’s Army marched out 


310 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

of their entrenchments. Grounded their arms and 
marched through our Army which was paraded, and 
proceeded on their way to Boston. 

“ Oct. 18. We marched to Stillwater, and lay with- 
out any shelter. 

Oct 19. We marched to Halfmoon and lay as 
before. 

“ Oct. 20. We marched to Albany and encamped 
upon a miserable place upon account of wood and 
water. 

“21. A cold day and snowed a little.” 

Nov. 16, he records, “We heard that the firing 
which occasioned the alarm last night were some men 
who shot at a bear.” This was in the vicinity of 
White Plains, N. Y., I believe, where the regiment 
was disbanded, each soldier being left to find his way 
home on foot as best he could. 

After Sumner King’s return from the war, he 
studied for the ministry, and was settled as a Baptist 
pastor at Wendell, Mass., later going as Baptist mis- 
sionary to Pennsylvania, where he died. In this con- 
nection, it is pleasant to give the testimony of one 
of the Hessian officers, quoted by Irving in his “ Life 
of Washington,” as to the appearance and demeanor of 
our ancestors on the occasion of the surrender of 
Burgoyne : 

“We passed through the American camp in which 
all the regiments were drawn out beside the artillery, 
and stood under arms. Not one of them was uni- 
formly clad ; each had on the clothes which he wore 


APPENDIX. 


311 


in the fields, the church, or the tavern. They stood, 
however, like soldiers well arranged, and with a 
military air, in which there was but little to find fault 
with. All the muskets had bayonets, and the sharp- 
shooters had rifles. The men all stood so still that we 
were filled with wonder. Not one of them made a 
single motion as if he would speak with his neighbor. 
Nay more, all the lads that stood there in rank and 
file kind nature had formed so trim, so slender, so 
nervous, that it was a pleasure to look at them, and 
we all were surprised at the sight of such a handsome, 
well-formed race.” 

Irving adds : “ He made himself merry, however, with 
the equipment of the officers. A few wore regimen- 
tals ; and these were fashioned to their own notions 
as to cut and color, being provided by themselves.” 

Possibly the Hessian officer caught a glimpse of 
Captain Isaac Newton of Greenfield, in his home- 
made suit of white woollen I 


APPENDIX F. 

On March 11, 1776, Shelburne chose these men as 
the Committee of Correspondence: Major David 
Wells, John Wells, Robert Wilson, Aaron Skinner, 
John Burdick, John Taylor, Samuel Wilson. In 
June, it was voted to increase this committee to twelve, 
and these names were added: Deacon Samuel Fel- 
lows, Captain Lawrence Kemp, Lieutenant Benjamin 
Nash, Lieutenant John Long, Mr. Stephen Kellogg. 


312 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEYENTT-SEYEN. 


APPENDIX G. 

Willard, in his History of Greenfield (1838), thus 
describes “the Old Burial Ground”; “From the 
brow of the hill at this burial ground, is to be found 
one of the most pleasant and picturesque prospects in 
this part of the country, and worthy the pencil of an 
artist. The eye here takes in a view of the sloping 
mountains of Shelburne, Deerfield and Sunderland, 
and the romantic rocky ridge bordering the village on 
the east; the rich meadows below and on the river; 
parts of those at Deerfield ; the scattered houses in 
the hamlet of Charleston, with its stone jail, princely 
jail house, and neat grounds ; the old mill ; — the 
windings of the Green River and the evergreen hill 
beyond, and minor objects. — A few years since, a 
beautiful grove of stately oaks covered the southern 
declivity of the hill adjoining this ground. Their 
appearance, to those coming from the south, was very 
beautiful. — It is still a very beautiful spot, although 
much which rendered it peculiarly inviting, is lost by 
the removal of the oaks.” 

About thirty years ago, the town decided to tear 
up this burial place, in order to obtain a short cut to 
the railroad station, and the site is now covered with 
brick buildings. We cannot believe such a sacri- 
lege would be committed now, with the present 
greater regard for historic places and associations. 


APPENDIX. 


313 


All persons having relatives interred there were 
notified to remove their bodies, and the Colonel 
David Wells then living on the old farm (grandson 
of him of Revolutionary times) brought the few 
crumbling bones of Patience Wells to Shelburne, and 
placed them in the family lot there on meeting 
house hill, — the spot familiar to her girlhood. 


APPENDIX H. 

In “Under a Colonial Roof-tree,’’ by Miss Arria 
Huntington, is given this extract from the diary of 
Mrs. Elizabeth Porter of Hadley. 

“ August 13, 1775. Went down to Mrs. Thomas 
Smith’s to get Lydia to show me how to make a pair 
of breeches, for the soldiers’ people are sent to find 
’em clothes.” 


APPENDIX I. 

“ It has been said that General Burgoyne occupied 
‘the Bishop’s Palace’ (at 10 Linden Street, Cam- 
bridge). This was, of course, after his capitulation 
on October 17, 1777, at the time when the British 
and Hessian troops, 4200 strong, were assigned to 
Cambridge as their prison ground. The artillery of 
the captured troops was parked on the Common at 


314 BOYS AND GIRLS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN. 

this crisis, in front of Christ Church, and the bar- 
racks built for the besiegers of Boston were now 
occupied by her vanquished foes.” — From “ The 
Romance of Old New England Churches,” by Mary 
Caroline Crawford. 


APPENDIX. 


315 


APPENDIX J. 

These inscriptions on grave-stones in the old Rowe 
burying-ground may interest the young friends of 
John and Mary Wells : 

“ In memory of John Wells, Esq., 
died May 21st, 1813, in 59th yr of 
his age. This modest stone, what 
few vain marbles can, may truly 
say. Here lies an honest man, who 
broke no promise, served no private 
end, who sought no honors and 
betrayed no friend; Firm in his 
faith, from superstition free. Lover 
of peace and foe to tyranny, Calmly 
he looked on either life, and here 
Saw little to regret, or there to 
fear.” 

“ Mrs. Mary Wells, consort of 
John Wells, Esq., died 1797, 43d yr. 

Here rests a woman good without 
pretense. Blest with sound reason 
and with sober sense. Heaven, as 
its purest gold by tortures tried. 

The saint sustained it, but the 
woman died.” 


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OLD DEERFIELD SERIES 

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254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON 


Historically Accurate Adventure Stories 

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little, brown, & CO., Publishers 

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FOUR ON A FARM 

By MARY P. WELLS SMITH 
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LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers 

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